Whether they need firefighters or an ambulance, Phoenix residents and business owners on average are waiting nearly twice the amount of time that national standards set for a response.
Hammered by a soaring demand, staffing shortages and an insufficient number of fire stations, the Phoenix Fire Department’s fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances on av
The Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course may finally be fully reopened nine years af ter owner Wilson Gee and his partners closed it, but the two homeowners who waged an eight-year legal battle to have that done want the last word in the fight.
And it’s an expensive one.
On their behalf, attorney Tim Barnes last week asked a Superior Court judge to order ALCR to pay a $2 million “coercive sanction, to ensure compliance and redress the damage to plaintiffs and their community.”
The $2 million sanction was set in November 2020 by Superior Court Judge Theodore Cam
erage take almost nine minutes to arrive at the scene 90% of the time.
The National Fire Protection Association for acceptable response times to fires is 5 minutes and 20 seconds or less in 90% of calls for ser vice, less than 5 minutes 90% of the time for ambulances.
In laying out the crisis in grim detail before City Council on Oct. 12, Fire Chief Mike Duran III and Assistant Fire Chief Tim Kreis didn’t mince words about the seriousness of their department’s plight – or the slim prospects for
a quick or easy solution.
“Our biggest challenge associated with our response times is fire companies are just too busy,” Kreis said, explaining fire stations are “running too many calls and because they are running too many calls, they’re running out of service and that’s having a cascading impact on our system.”
City Manager Jeff Barton earlier told Council in a memo, “Two key factors in managing re
It’s been 12 years since John and Kay West sold their Ahwatukee home and all their possessions to go to African to minister to poor people in the country once known as Swaziland and now called Eswatini. Since their return after seven years in Africa, they still are continuing that mission, as you can read on page 25. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)
The Ahwatukee
News is
free
throughout Ahwatukee Foothills.
Times Media Group:
1900 W. Broadway Road, Tempe, Arizona, 85282
Main number: 480-898-6500
Advertising: 480-898-5624
Circulation service: 480-898-5641
National Advertising Director
Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 zac@ahwatukee.com
Advertising Sales Representatives: Laura Meehan, 480-898-7904, | lmeehan@ahwatukee.com Katie Mueller, 480-898-7909 kmueller@TimesLocalMedia.com
Classified: Elaine Cota, 480-898-7926 | ecota@ahwatukee.com
NEWS STAFF
Executive Editor:
Paul Maryniak, 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@ahwatukee..com
GetOut Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, 480-641-4518 christina@TimesLocalMedia.com
Sports Editor: Zach Alvira 480-898-5630 | zalvira@TimesLocalMedia.com
Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@TimesLocalMedia.com
Photographer: David Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com
Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham 480-898-5617 production@@TimesLocalMedia.com
Reporters: Cecilia Chan. 480-898-5613 | cchan@@TimesLocalMedia.com
Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny 480-898-5641 | aaron@phoenix.org
Distribution Manager Brian Juhl brian@TimesLocalMedia.com
Ahwatukee Foothills News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is limited to one copy per reader. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@phoenix.org..
To start or stop delivery of the paper, please visit: https://timespublications.com/phoenix/ or call 480-898-7901
To get your free online editiona subscription, please visit: https://www.ahwatukee.com/e-subscribe/
To submit a letter, please include your full name.
Our policy is not to run anonymous letters. Please keep the length to 300 words. Letters will be run on a space-available basis. Please send your contributions to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com.
The Ahwatukee Foothills News expresses its opinion. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author.
The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ahwatukee Foothills News assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement.
Boyscan’t play on girls’ athletic teams in Kyrene School District – or in any other Arizona school district
– but the Kyrene Governing Board last week found a way to conform to the law but keep its distance from it.
The board unanimously voted last week on wording it feels indicates oppo sition to the “Save Girls Sports Act,” as SB 1165 was titled.
Board President Kevin Walsh stressed, “We do intend to comply with that lan guage. It’s just a question of whether or not we want to have that in our policies.”
Board members at an earlier meeting balked at the law. They contended it vio lates the district’s equity policies and com mitment to treating all students equally regardless of differences like gender, race and other individual characteristics.
But because violating the law could lead to harsh penalties, including the with holding of state assistance, the board had little choice but to go along.
Still, members Michelle Fahy and Wan da Kolomyjec sought the elimination of the law’s language from the district’s pol icy manual.
That language states: “Each inter scholastic athletic team or sport that is sponsored by a public school shall be expressly designated as one (1) of the following based on the biological sex of the students who participate on the team or in the sport: A. ‘Males,’ ‘men’ or ‘boys; B. ‘Females,’ ‘women’ or ‘girls’; C. ‘Coed’ or ‘mixed.’
“Athletic teams or sports designated for ‘females,’ ‘women’ or ‘girls’ may not be open to students of the male sex. Any student may participate in any intramural athletic team or sport designated as being for ‘males,’ ‘men’ or ‘boys’ or designated as ‘coed’ or ‘mixed.’
Fahy sought to replace that language that would simply cite the title of the state statute. She suggested wording that says, “Even though its contents are contrary to
the district’s belief statements and inclu
Then, Fahy said, the policy could say, “we’re following state law, but leave the language out either way and make the statement that we don’t agree with it.”
Kolomyjec agreed, stating, “I don’t want to give any oxygen to the law.” She and Fahy liked the idea of just listing the title number of the state law.
“We have to follow it,” Kolomyjec con tinued. “And yeah, I think it’s time for bod ies that have the opportunity to stand up to bullies and I think we can do it in our own little way with that language.”
Chandler Unified members last month adopted the policy but also expressed bit ter opposition to it.
At least on Kyrene board member sug gested the new law promotes fair compe tition in at least some instances.
Kyrene board member Margaret Wright succeeded in getting a link to the specific statute included in the policy “so that par ents don’t have to dig through Arizona state statute, which is very confusing and isn’t a language very accessible to the lay person.”
Saying “I personally lean towards leav ing the (original) language and I under stand we want fair and equitable treat ment for our students,” Wright said.
“I think that there is an element to sepa rating boys and girls sports that does pro vide some fair and equitable treatment, especially for girls who are wanting to play a sport. None of that was brought up
Kyrene Governing Board member Margaret Wright asked that a link to the new law ban ning boys from girls sports teams be part of the Kyrene policy and said “there is an ele ment” to the ban that involves fairness to girls in competitive sports. (YouTube)
at our meeting.”
“We set rules in sports specifically all the time to promote fairness and the el ement of competition,” she said. “But I do personally want to acknowledge that there is an element of competition that would not be totally maintained if we did not follow this.”
“I think that in the end, we would still be discussing the element of fair ness and competition when it comes to sports specifically,” James added, insist ing “providing that language that’s very accessible and easy for parents is kind of important.”
officials are aggressively reaching out to high schools across the Valley, including Tempe Union, to recruit lifeguards for the 2023 pool
after a shortage of half its staff left the city enough manpower to open only 14 of its 29 pools.
Though Pecos Pool did open for this summer, the city this year scrambled to open pools by adopting several financial measures – including a reduction in the training class rate from $85 to $20 and a $2,500 bonus payable in two install ments – $500 with the first check and the rest at the end of the season.
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Tracy Hall told City Council two weeks ago those incentives generated 400 more applications than the city received in 2021 and that 87% of those hired stayed in the job till the end of the summer.
“We hired 415 staff members to run those 14 pools and we finished the sea son with 384 staff members over the summer,” Aquatics Director Becky Hu lett told Council. “We saw over 220,000 people visit our facilities – 162,000 of them or through open swim and another 64,000 participated through swimming lessons. As far as the swimming lessons go, we had 8,100 participants register and take swimming lessons which was almost 100% completion rate …We had close to 3,500 people that were still on our waitlist that were looking for swim ming lessons.”
Hulett said her staff has been going to high schools during lunch times and that those representatives “are excited about their jobs to share with teens about the opportunities to become a lifeguard.
“They are handing out recruitment in formation, they’re sharing the Instagram page with them so they can start follow ing us and giving them fliers on the up coming classes that they can register for.”
So far the staff has visited more than 50 high schools, including those in Tem pe Union, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley, Phoenix Union and Glendale Union, Hu lett said, adding that while swim teams are being pitched, recruitment efforts are casting a broader net to attract stu dents who might not necessarily swim competitively.
“We are collecting contact information for individuals that are interested in be coming lifeguards,” she explained. “We put them into an email group and we’re able to have constant contact with them.”
“We are touching all of those high schools as well as some of our charter schools in these areas, community col leges and the universities,” she added.
“Those visits will continue from No vember all the way through the end of March.”
Come January, “we will start water testing and our efforts to start rehir ing staff,” Hulett said, adding she hoped hiring would be completed by April so training could begin in May.
Hulett also explained that the city start ed a junior lifeguard program and that it also is looking to possibly expand a “shal low water lifeguard certification.” Unlike normal certification that qualifies a life guard for depths of 12 feet or more, that certification qualifies them to watch over pools with less than four feet of water.
Hulett also said her department is dis cussing compensation with city human resources staff.
Phoenix lifeguards currently earn $14.26 an hour and that rate ranks 13th in the state. Of the top five five cities in Arizona for lifeguard pay, Gilbert pays the most with $17.22 while Tucson, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe all pay at least $16 an hour.
Phoenix’s rate for pool managers is $19.06 an hour. Chandler’s $22.11 an hour is the highest for pool managers in Arizona, Hulett said.
The Mesa Historical Museum is offering folks a chance to mix Hal loween and history.
The annual tour of the city’s historic cemetery will be held 8-10 a.m. next Sat urday, Oct. 22, and tickets are on sale at the museum’s website, mesahistoricalmu seum.com or by emailing info@mesamu seum.org.
Mayor John Giles and Councilman Mark Freeman will be among the guests narra tors at a selection of grave sites during the self-guided walking tour.
“This year we are featuring Waylon Jen nings and Vans Auditorium founder John Vance as a complement to our Early Enter tainment in Mesa exhibit we just opened
in August,” museum Executive Director Susan Ricci said. “We are also honoring the first African-American councilman Jerry Boyd, Pedro Guerrero and Susie Sato to name a few.”
Established in 1891, the cemetery at 1212 N. Center St. is the final resting place for a number of well-known Mesa and Valley celebrities and historical figures among the 38,000 interments.
Among the most visited gravesites is that of Waylon Jennings, the legendary musician who pioneered the outlaw movement in country music.
Jennings’ black stone grave marker, with a picture of his smiling face, stands out from the others in its row. It’s larger, and one of the more decorated ones in the row.
Attorney Tim Barnes filed numerous photos of the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course that he contends shows the site has not been completed as required by a judge. (Maricopa County Superior Court)
pagnolo if the course was not opened for play on Sept. 1, 2022 and the work com pleted by Aug. 31, 2022.
Another judge last month delayed the opening deadline until mid-October after ALCR and the court-appointed special mas ter supervising the restoration said more time was needed to allow Bermuda grass to fully root before golfers started playing.
But now Superior Court Judge Melissa Iver Julian – the fourth judge to be as signed to a case filed in 2014 – has been asked to levy Campagnolo’s threatened sanction for failure to meet the Aug. 31, 2022, completion date.
“Photographic and other evidence af firms that ALCR continues to fail to meet the deadline,” Barnes’ motion states, add ing that the $2 million penalty would be “extending and strengthening its (the court’s) March 18, 2022, order appointing special master.”
“Not surprisingly, Judge Campagnolo ac curately predicted that ‘ALCR’s history, as magnified by Mr. Gee’s historical involve ment with the Golf Course, strongly indi cates that ALCR will do all it can to stall and delay its obligations under the Judgment.’
“Consequently, because defendants from the outset to the present day continue in their dilatory manner, Plaintiffs request imposition of the maximum $2 million co ercive sanction.”
Barnes’ motion cites several of the re ports filed by the special master during the work last summer:
“For example, his June 11, 2022, report
states, ‘I’m requesting and encouraging everyone involved to continue to have the sense of urgency we need in terms of staffing, equipment’; and the August 6, 2022, report stated, “Mario continues to do a good job but we need to get him the necessary resources (staff and the proper equipment) over the next three (3) weeks so he can succeed in getting all the re maining work completed.’”
Barnes also alleges that Gee’s failure to rebuild the clubhouse and instead provide “a 15 ft. by 32 ft. manufactured building” further violates the orders of both Hannah and Campagnolo.
“The Sanctions Order expressly requires ALCR to restore the Golf Course with all the ‘amenities mentioned in the Declara tions, such as a pro shop, pathways, etc.’
“Because Ahwatukee Lakes was Ari zona’s top–rated executive golf course, its ample clubhouse was a bustling center of sport, commerce, community and cama raderie – part of the backdrop for Judge Hannah’s finding that any restoration must be ‘consistent with the reasonable expectations that the golf course created among the benefitted homeowners.”
Barnes also said the restoration is not complete, citing damaged concrete cart paths, restrooms in disrepair, tunnel walls covered by graffiti, “lake beds uncleaned unsealed or abandoned,” and a bridge that was “generously, shoddy work that reflects a ‘workmanship be damned’ attitude.”
Barnes asserted “ALCR and its predeces sor owners have battled plaintiffs since
long before” the suit was filed by home owners Linda Swain and Eileen Breslin on Oct. 10, 2014.
He cites a 2018 ruling by Superior Court Judge John Hannah – the first judge in the case – that the previous owner, Bixby Vil lage, “through Wilson Gee operated the golf course but allowed it to deteriorate and from early on were planning to turn it into a 300-unit housing tract.”
Gee in 2015 had a tentative agreement to sell the 105-acre course for about $9 million to The True Life Companies, which had planned to build 270 homes, a school, a café and a 5-acre farm.
But True Life backed out of the deal after losing a fierce campaign to have at least half the 5,400 Lakes homeowners agree to a change in the property’s land use regu lations to allow that development.
“The Ahwatukee community listened, then vigorously and repeatedly rejected any plan to pave over the golf course,” Barnes wrote. “In turn, Wilson Gee retali ated by closing the course, surrounding it with an unsightly cyclone fence
“In quick steps, Bixby Group cut off the course’s irrigation systems, drained the
lakes, cannibalized usable equipment and stripped the course’s 18 greens for sod. While Bixby expeditiously packed some of the course’s bounty off to its other golf courses in the Ahwatukee area at the Lakes Golf Course, it turned the water off for eight years!
“Without a water supply, the Golf Course’s grass died, and its physical con dition deteriorated. Hundreds of mature trees withered, destroyed – devastating wildlife, migratory birds, flora and fish. The value of neighboring homes whose occupants had invested life savings to ensure a secure retirement in a cohesive neighborhood cascaded south. The once verdant Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course became the neighborhood blight, and an environmental cause celebre.”
In seeking sanctions, Barnes quotes Campagnolo’s order, which states:
“The third deadline as to completion of construction means what it says: Comple tion means completion. Not substan tial completion. Not partial completion. Completion means that the Golf Course is open for golfing on all 18 holes, and that any amenities mentioned in the Declara tions, such as a pro shop, pathways, etc. are ready for usage by golfers.”
and
of
Realty Group
Move in ready 1,594 sf 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with north / south expo sure! 2014 roof with 12 year warranty, 2015 Milgard windows including the slid ing glass door to the
After a nationwide search, the Maricopa County Community College District has named Dr. Richard C. Daniel the new South Moun tain Community College president.
Daniel will replace Interim President Dr. Janet Ortega, who assumed the inter im role on Aug. 12 after the retirement of Dr. Shari Olson.
Beautifully updated 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale!
Covered balcony looks out to the Continental Golf Course! Kitchen boasts trendy white cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, walk in pantry and breakfast bar. Refrigerator and washer/dryer convey! Tile flooring throughout; no carpet! 2021 HVAC UNIT! All new matte black door hardware. Both bathrooms updated in 2021 with new vanities, faucets and light fixtures. 2022 ceiling fans in bedrooms and family room. Community amenities include two pools, a work out facility and multiple, impeccably cared for common grass areas; pet friendly community! Close to Scottsdale Stadium, art galleries, restaurants, Civic Center, and Fashion Square.
Beautifully updated 4,247 sf home with 5 bedrooms, office, finished basement and four full bathrooms! Nearly a ¼ acre with a north facing back yard. One bedroom and one bathroom downstairs. Kitchen boasts rich, dark finish cabinetry, 2022 Quartz counter tops, center island, pantry, large eat-in casual dining area. All flooring replaced in November 2021; wood look vinyl plank flooring throughout with upgraded carpet in bedrooms and on staircase. 2021 baseboards throughout. 2022 interior and exterior paint. Master suite has a large walk in closet, dual sinks, separate walk in shower and Roman soaking tub. Large secondary bedrooms; one of the secondary bedrooms upstairs is enormous and would also make a great game room. All secondary bedroom closets have Classy Closet build outs. The large laundry room, with overhead cabinets for extra storage, is also built out as a mud room. The private back yard setting has a covered patio in addition to the elevated patio area off the kitchen, a large grass area, extensive hardscape, fire pit, and a sparkling pebble tec pool.
Beautiful custom home on over an acre with a northeast facing backyard! This sprawling estate is surrounded by natural arroyo with breathtaking McDowell Mountain and Red Mountain views and city lights! Truly a rare find, this home has five bedrooms (one down) plus office plus a large guest quarters with its own entrance from the exterior.
The guest quarters has a large family room, dining area, and a separate bedroom. Guest quarters is attached so it also makes a great bonus game/room. The kitchen boasts granite counter tops, a center island, pantry and an eat-in dining nook. Family room has a cozy wood burning fireplace and a large wet bar adjacent to it; a great set up for parties! The family room exits to the resort style backyard with an extended covered patio, sparkling heated pool and spa and a large grass area; perfect for families and entertaining! Large storage room in the garage. Enjoy the serenity of desert living while being just minutes from golf, restaurants and shopping!
Beautifully remodeled 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom condo! Walk out your ground level front door to a sprawling common grass area! The covered patio also faces the wide - open grass area! Kitchen was remodeled in June of 2022 with honed granite counter tops, upgraded Samsung stainless steel appliances, extra large single basin sink, upgraded matte black faucet and trendy LED track lighting. Kitchen also has a breakfast bar, pantry and eatin dining area. Open kitchen - great room floor plan! Wood - look 20 mil 7’’x 48’’ vinyl plank flooring throughout the home with carpet only in the bedrooms and on the staircase. Both bathrooms were remodeled with new white Shaker cabinets, honed granite vanity tops, designer mirrors, upgrad ed faucets, toilets, lights and fixtures. New 4” baseboards. New matte black interior door hardware. One car carport & one assigned parking space. Laundry room is on-site just off carport area. Heated community pool.
“I am honored and excited to join the South Mountain Community College family,” said Daniel. “I look forward to working closely with the faculty, staff, and students to provide premier higher education and workforce development opportunities for those we serve in our community.”
Daniel’s professional experience spans 30 years in Arizona higher education.
He has been executive vice president and chief operating officer of Educa tion Forward Arizona, where he works to identify partnerships and fundrais ing opportunities for the organization’s growth and impact.
In addition, Daniel has led the orga nization’s fundraising efforts. In 2021, he assisted in raising $8.5 million from foundations, corporations, federal and state grants, and tribal communities. To date, his fundraising efforts have raised approximately $16 million in multi-year funding, the district said in a release..
“Dr. Daniel’s extensive background in higher education impressed System, college, and community stakeholder groups,” said Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. “His passion and advocacy for education of all levels will support our diverse student population. I am proud to welcome him to Maricopa and look
DR. RICHARD C. DANIELforward to working together to advance the mission of the SMCC.”
Prior to joining Education Forward Arizona, Daniel served as the executive vice president and chief operating of ficer at College Success Arizona, where he worked to connect transformative opportunities of higher education to stu dents from underserved and underrep resented communities across Arizona.
His background in higher education includes senior leadership positions at public research universities and com munity colleges, including Arizona State University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and SMCC.
Daniel holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies, a master’s degree in higher education administra tion, and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Arizona State University.
Daniel will assume his role Nov. 7.
At Ahwatukee Dental Health, Dr. Amy Nordquist and her team are dedicated to providing each and every patient with the care and attention they need in the most comfortable way possible. Her time spent with you will always be thorough and focused on your dental concerns. Our team values personalized attention and long-term relationships with all of our patients. We can’t wait
n recognition of Blindness Aware ness Month, East Valley residents are invited to an ‘eye-opening’ firsthand experience of what blindness feels like.
The Arizona Chapter of Foundation Fighting Blindness has prepared a feast for the curious and daring 5-7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Tempe’s Culinary Dropout.
Dining in the Dark is a fundraising event that allows guests to share one night together learning how vision loss truly affects the individuals who live with it daily.
“Even one’s own family or friends don’t quite understand what all that entails,” said June Tesdall, a legally blind Ahwatu kee resident and chapter member. “They think they know, but they really don’t.”
As someone who has attended this event in 2019, she believes Dining in the Dark gives people a personal and prac tical encounter with some of the chal lenges she lives with.
Dinner guests will be provided blindfolds and the room lights will be dimmed low. The event is supported by educated hosts who can assist guests as they partake.
Tesdall has explained, “The waiter will prepare you with instructions such as ‘the chicken’s at twelve o’clock and the broccoli’s at three.’”
Fai Mo, chapter president, said that the dining experience is fun and attend ees should expect the unexpected.
At a prior event, one of his family members “lost” his slab of butter as he tried to put it on a roll, only to find it lat er, flung from the knife and stuck to the side of Mo’s glass.
Tesdall said the dining hall is filed with both laughter and compassion at the conclusion of the meal.
Mo has been looking forward to this event as the fourth of its kind, here in Arizona.
“People come from all over the state,” he said.
This dinner is not to be confused with other so-called taste-enriching blind folded or darkroom gimmicks that are becoming popular at expensive eateries.
He said the most rewarding part of the night is actually seeing the impact of one’s contribution and hearing that there is hope for finding a cure and a treatment.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll find some thing–if not for me, than for the genera tions after me–to slow or even reverse vision loss.”
Mo has been the president of the Ari zona chapter of Foundation Fighting Blindness, the largest non-governmen tal retinal research facility in America, since 2018.
“When I first learned about the Foun dation and its mission, it resonated with me,” he said.
Mo, like Tesdall, suffers from a pro gressive retinal degeneration that slow ly steals one’s sight from the outside-in until there is tunnel vision, or total loss.
“To share my story with others,” he said, “is a blessing. I am most thank ful for connecting with others going through vision loss and sharing this journey together.”
This year, the foundation is expecting 200 attendees in the Culinary Dropout’s “Showcase Room” at 149 S. Farmer Ave.
The event includes a cocktail hour with a silent auction, a short welcome by the chapter president, a set by co median-emcee Andrew Norelli, and two “Visionary” award recipients will be honored.
Tickets are $180, which covers dinner (with vegan options) and a contribution towards advanced retina research. Cor porate and personal sponsorship are also available.
Dr. Bertram Matsumoto, an ophthal mologist with offices in Ahwatukee, Tempe, Chandler, and Sun Lakes, has purchased three full tables as a corpo rate learning experience.
He told Tesdall, “I want my whole staff to experience this.”
Tesdall encourages ASAP ticket reservations because the last event was “packed.”
Guests and supporters must purchase a ticket or table in advance of the date through the Foundation Fighting Blind ness’ website: tinyurl.com/AZFFBdin ner22
In the far reaches of East Mesa, planes buzz overhead but on a smaller scale.
The Arizona Model Aviators flies out of the Superstition Air Park located at Levee Drive in Mesa. Tim Dickey, board member for the Arizona Model Aviators, said the club represents a lifelong interest for ev eryone involved in building and flying into the wild, blue yonder.
“It’s been an evolution for me since childhood off and on,” Dickey said. “I got back into it approximately 12 years ago, and I really liked the modeling aspect of it in the shop.”
From Oct. 20-23, the club will host the 41st annual U.S. Scale Masters Association National Championships that will draw more than 50 pilots from around the coun try and more than 400 spectators per day.
The Scale Masters competition venue changes every year and last came to Mesa in 2002.
“It’s actually the largest event that we’ll be having this year,” Dickey said. “It’s a very big event for us.”
Model aviation has several disciplines, with this event focusing on scale flying and each aircraft’s resemblance to an existing full-scale plane, including World War I bi planes, World War II P-51 Mustangs and fighter jets flown in Korea and Vietnam.
Judges review aircraft based on scale documentation, as well as how well it flies
compared to the real thing.
Pilots also stage aircraft on the tarmac so planes can be judged for craftsmanship, color, markings and outline.
Criteria for the flight portion is based on 10 different maneuvers.
It can take at least two years to build an “accurate, high-quality scale model,” Dickey said.
“I came into it more from the standpoint of enjoying modeling things in general,” Dickey said. “And that really comes from my desire to be in the shop and to build things with my hands from scratch.”
Dickey said “scratch-building” – build ing the models by hand – has dwindled with the advent of ready-to-fly kits.
“It’s becoming a lost art because now you’re able to purchase these models that have been fully built, and just need to be assembled,” Dickey said.
Most models’ parts consist of a light wood such as balsa or composite plastic and the planes go down to the smallest detail, including decals and rivets.
Starter kits can begin at $400 for a foam battery-operated plane and remote con trol and go as high as $20,000 for a quar ter-scale, gas-powered Beechcraft King Air utility aircraft.
The club has existed for more than 40 years and has more than 260 members ranging in age from 8 to 80.
The club uses the Superstition Air Park
Backin 2014, the state’s largest elec tric company put $10.7 million into successful efforts to elect Repub licans Tom Forese and Doug Little to the panel that has life-or-death control of how much it can charge its customers.
Three years later, the Arizona Corpora tion Commission approved a 4.5% rate hike for Arizona Public Service.
The company didn’t disclose the fund ing until 2019. And it was able to do that because state laws allows donations to be funneled through other entities to run in dependent expenditure campaigns for or against candidates, with no requirement for disclosure.
All that would come to an end if voters approve Proposition 211, which is de signed to unearth the ultimate source of all campaign dollars.
The measure is drawing fire from the business-oriented Arizona Free Enter prise Club which contends that this kind of disclosure would lead to harassment of donors.
“They want the names of private citi zens so that they can dox, harass and can cel them in their communities,’’ said club
President Scot Mussi. “And they intend to use their friends in Big Tech and the Cor porate Media (which are exempt from this initiative) to aid them in their quest.
That’s also the conclusion of Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Ari zona Policy.
“This initiative is about bullying some citizens out of campaign involvement,’’ she said. “The desired effect is to scare con tributors out of donating to campaigns, while their own donors’ virtue signal by touting their donations to woke causes.’’
But former Attorney General Terry God dard, who crafted what is known as the Voters’ Right to Know Act, said that ig nores existing Arizona law.
“Everybody in Arizona who gives $50 or more has to give a full disclosure,’’ he said, citing statutes which require public disclosure of anyone who makes direct donations to candidates or ballot mea sures. Goddard said if harassment is an issue, there already would be evidence of a problem.
“What our friends from the Free Enter
prise Club are saying is, ‘Well, our friends are special and shouldn’t have to do that,’” he said.
Mussi, however, insists this is different.
“You’re talking about private citizens giving to private organizations,’’ he said. And if that organization does give money to a cause or candidate, that fact is dis closed -- though its original donors or not.
Mussi insisted it’s no different if the “private citizen’’ giving to an organization is a regulated utility which intends for the “private organization’’ to use the funds to affect an election.
Goddard also dismissed the possibility that public disclosure could be used to ha rass people over their small donations.
“We set the disclosure limit at $5,000,’’ he said.
“People who give $5,000 can take care of themselves,’’ Goddard continued. “I’m sorry, that’s just the way it is.’’
The law applies only to organizations that spend at least $50,000 on statewide campaigns or $25,000 on other campaigns.
He also said there’s a provision in the initiative that allows those who believe they or their family will be physically harmed if a donation becomes public to petition the Citizens Clean Elections Com mission to request a waiver.
Then there’s the legal question.
Goddard acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark 2010 case of Citizens United, prohibits the gov ernment from restricting independent expenditures for political campaigns by corporations, labor unions and other or ganizations. But he said the justices did not bar disclosure requirements.
Mussi, however, cited a 2021 ruling by the nation’s high court that voided a Cali fornia requirement that charities and non profit organizations operating in the state
provide the attorney general’s office with the names and addresses of their largest donors. He said that precedent applies to groups who are formed to influence elec tions, suggesting that if Proposition 211 is approved it will lead to litigation,
The initiative has gained its share of supporters.
One of them is Democrat Sandra Kenne dy, who was on the losing end of that 2014 vote for the Corporation Commission.
She finally got elected to the panel in 2018. By that time, Little had resigned to take a job in the Trump administration; Forese lost his reelection bid that year.
Kennedy then went on to get the com missioner to issue a subpoena of both APS and Pinnacle West Capital Corp., its par ent, to disclose political spending.
“On the heels of their 2014 dark money spending, there was an enormous rate in crease and confusing rate plans for APS customers to choose from, providing that dark money takes money out of people’s pockets,’’ she said. And Kennedy noted that when APS went public with its fund ing on commission races the company also disclosed other spending that year.
That included $50,000 to the Republi can Governors Association, which helped Doug Ducey win his first election, and $425,000 to the Republican Attorney Gen erals Association which, in turn, bought commercials to help elect Mark Brnovich.
Company officials said in 2019 they would not fund future campaigns.
The measure also has other backers.
“The League of Women Voters of Ari zona believes democracy should be pro tected from distortion by undisclosed in dividuals and corporations buying media in election campaigns to persuade voters,’’ said organization president Pinny Sheo ran in a statement of support.
The merits of the proposal aside, Mussi called the measure “incredibly confusing.’’
As crafted, it requires campaigns to trace the cash back to the original donors, even if the money has been run through multiple organizations.
“Compliance with this thing is going to be almost impossible,’’ he said. “How do you comply, really, with that without ei ther forcing every organization into en tering into complicated agreements with each other, or forcing groups not to associ ate with each other at all?’’
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
AScottsdale legislator who also heads the House Appropriations Committee wants to pull all state funds from Arizona PBS over what he said is the station’s mishandling of the guber natorial debate.
Republican Rep. John Kavanagh ac knowledged that KAET-TV has the right to air what it wants. And that includes what station officials say is its obligation to pro vide equal time to Democrat Katie Hobbs after Republican Kari Lake was going to get 30 minutes of airtime.
But Kavanagh told Capitol Media Services last week that the station, which is part of the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizo na State University, has had an ongoing re lationship with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission that arranges these debates.
“The rules for years were if a candidate refuses to debate, they don’t get time,’’ he said.
That was the case here, with the com mission agreeing to provide a 30-minute interview for Lake with host Ted Simons after Hobbs refused to share the stage.
On Wednesday, though, the station de cided on its own it would provide the same opportunity for Hobbs on its nightly Horizon show this coming week despite
AVIATOR from page 13
because it offers an 850-foot-long paved runway and bays for staging aircraft.
“It’s one of the nicest, if not the nicest runway facility, certainly in Arizona, and maybe even in the west,” Dickey said.
Lt. Col. (Ret) Larry Wagy enjoys teach
the fact the commission had rejected her request for separate interviews. And Lake’s interview, originally scheduled for Wednesday, would immediately follow.
“It smacks of partisan politics,’’ Kava nagh said of the decision of Arizona PBS to allow Hobbs an opportunity despite her spurning commission rules.
“They’re reneging on a commitment they made to Clean Elections to go by the rules that promote Clean Elections de bates,’’ Kavanagh said. “And that’s why it’s a problem.’’
He also said giving Hobbs an interview even after she refused to debate will en courage future candidates to do the same, without fear of forfeiting airtime on the Phoenix PBS affiliate.
Kavanagh was not the only Republican lashing out at the station for its decision.
“It just seems wrong,’’ Gov. Doug Ducey told KTAR talk show host Mike Broomhead on Thursday. “And I think PBS needs to fix it.’’
What that means, the governor said, is the station going back to its original ar rangement with Clean Elections. That means either Hobbs shows up for an actual debate “or Kari Lake can have that time.’’
“They made a mistake here,’’ Ducey said of Arizona PBS. “They should just rip the Band-Aid off and fix it.’’
But Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin said his boss would not comment on Ka
ing flight instruction to other members, something he did while serving in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years.
Wagy said interest in the hobby has waned and fears the hobby he’s enjoyed since he was 7 will eventually crash and burn because “the health of the club de pends on bringing in younger people.”
vanagh’s bid to defund the station.
The university, for its part, continues to defend its decision.
ASU Vice President Jay Thorne said it was the “custom and responsibility of Horizon as a news agency’’ to provide time to all candi dates. And he said that decision to offer both of them time on the news show -- separate and apart from any commission-sponsored event -- did not violate any agreement Ari zona PBS had with the commission.
“The failure of the candidates to come to an agreement on a debate format ren dered it dead,’’ Thorne said. “And, lacking that forum, Arizona PBS and Horizon are advancing as they would under any other circumstance in providing time for each candidate.’’
That’s not exactly true.
In 2018, when Ducey refused to debate Secretary of State Ken Bennett ahead of the Republican gubernatorial primary, the station gave Bennett airtime on his own. And just this year former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez, seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, got a half-hour interview with Simons after Hobbs re fused to debate him.
Similar arrangements have been made in other races lower on the ticket.
“I’ve given you the comment I’m going to give you on that,’’ Thorne responded. Whether there will be back-to-back ap
Rodger Hoover, who will compete in the national championship and spent more than 35 years working for Douglas Air craft in the manufacturing and repair sec tor, agreed.
Hoover said younger generations are always welcome, adding, “There’s always someone to teach you how to fly.”
pearances as proposed this coming Tues day remains to be seen.
Lake said Wednesday, after Arizona PBS announced its decision to give time to Hobbs, that she would appear on the air at the station only if allowed to actually de bate her, as was the original arrangement.
“I will agree to appear with Katie Hobbs next Tuesday, on the stage, together,’’ Lake said.”And if she doesn’t appear with me, they should kick her out and say she can’t be on the airwaves of PBS.”
On Thursday, Lake press aide Ross Trumble said he won’t speculate on what the GOP nominee would do until the com mission makes further comments.
But Tom Collins, the commission’s ex ecutive director, said the only thing being considered now is whether another sta tion would give Lake time on her own, as was the arrangement with Arizona PBS after Hobbs backed out of the debate.
Eliminating state funding would have an effect.
The most recent figures show that just $488,652 of the station’s $20.2 million an nual budget comes directly from ASU, with the largest share, about $7.3 million, in subscription and membership income. But the university provides nearly $2.1 million in “indirect administrative support,’’ which likely includes space and utilities in the Cronkite School in downtown Phoenix.
restaurant at the top.
Cearley enjoys the strenuous hike up Camelback Mountain, where the reward at the top is a 360-de gree view of the nation’s fifth largest city and its suburbs sprawled out below.
“When you start on the bottom, it’s a lot of scenic rocks and stereotypical desert stuff,” Cearley said. “But once you get about three quarters of the way, the trail starts going high enough up on the ridge where you can then see over the city of Phoenix.”
The 20-year-old from St. Louis is one of many Valley visitors and residents who welcomed the Sept. 30 reopening of the Cholla Trail on Camelback’s eastern ridge, which shut down in 2020 after a 300-pound boulder crushed a hiker’s legs. The trailhead has been moved away from homes, restrooms and drinking fountains have been added, and the trail has been made safer.
During the closure, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department made major improvements to the trail, including re
Hikers gather at the new trailhead of the 1.42-mile Cholla Trail , which recently reopened after a two-year shutdown. It is part of Camelback Mountain, the highest peak in Phoenix at 2,704 feet above sea level. (Emily Mai/Cronkite News)
locating the trailhead from Cholla Lane to Invergordon Road in Paradise Valley, which becomes 64th Street in Phoenix. Camelback Mountain rises where Phoe nix touches Scottsdale and Paradise Val ley. Its summit sits at 2,704 feet above sea
Introducing Evernorth Care Group. Our doctors and staff are talented medical professionals who keep you healthy with best practices and clinical expertise. They also know your kids’ and your pets’ name. That’s the reason 9 out of 10 patients recommend us.
level and is Phoenix’s highest peak. The Cholla Trail improvements recognize the community’s regard for this Valley land mark, which has a rich history of working to preserve and to protect it from devel opment – including a 1950s plan to put a
Adam Waltz with Phoenix Parks and Recreation said the improvements to Cholla Trail help to create the safest atmo sphere possible for hikers.
“You have a lot of people hiking, they may have headphones in walking down from the trail and now you have cars in the mix. We just want to make sure that everybody is safe,” he said.
The city has also removed unstable boulders around the trail and installed trail posts and signs to guide hikers.
Before Camelback Mountain became a popular hiking destination, the Hohokam people considered the mountain a sacred place. A cave on the mountain’s north side is believed to have been used by the Hohokam as a religious and ceremonial place. Echo Canyon Trail leads hikers past the religious site today.
During the 1950s and ’60s, private in vestors bought up land around the moun tain to construct houses, and there was talk about building a swimming pool and
Evernorth Care Group
services
It’s how we treat you better.
restaurant at the summit. In that time period, Phoenix’s population had grown from 100,000 to 400,000, and interest in living on Camelback was high.
Hikers and residents who loved its beau ty voiced their concerns to the city. They worried that as more private homes went up, public access would be restricted.
The mountain, though, was outside city limits.
“If Barry Goldwater had not stepped in decades ago, it would be covered in homes, each one trying to top the next home,” historian Marshall Shore said.
The longtime senator and Republican icon made it his mission to protect Camel back Mountain. In 1965, Goldwater chaired the Preservation of Camelback Mountain Foundation, which raised money to keep development off of the mountain.
Goldwater didn’t interfere with the pri vate properties that were already built, but he did want to save the remaining open areas, specifically the summit.
The foundation’s goal was to raise $300,000 (about $2.8 million today) to buy land on the mountain to ensure public access. Goldwater treated this like an elec tion campaign by getting the community and his closest allies to donate anywhere from 25 cents to $25,000. Nearby schools held canned food drives which added more money to the donation pile.
Finally, in 1969, Goldwater and the com munity’s efforts were answered by a fed eral grant. The grant, combined with the foundation’s donations, was enough to buy the higher elevations of the mountain.
A year later, Phoenix built Echo Park and started building a hiking trail to the summit.
“We all know that nothing is forever and things change,” Shore said. “ But hopefully, those limited amounts of public beauty that are so accessible continue to stay that way.”
In December 2018, the Phoenix City Council voted to declare Camelback Mountain a preserve. The declaration was the result of efforts between the Phoe nix Mountains Preservation Council, the
Parks and Recreation Department and other community members.
“From time to time, there have been people that wanted to have a cable car up Camelback Mountain to a restaurant or something,” said Libby Goff, secretary of the Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council. “If we don’t have Camelback Mountain designated as a preserve, then we don’t have a lot of ground to stand on in trying to prevent that kind of thing from happening.”
The council, founded in 1970, works to protect the natural beauty of Phoenix’s multiple mountain park areas and their access to the public.
Goff said making sure Phoenix’s land marks stay untouched is a daily task, but one that’s ultimately rewarding.
“I am a native of Phoenix, and I’ve been hiking since I was a kid,” Goff said. “I real ized, I’m enjoying hiking on trails several times a week. I want to make sure that this is around for many years to come.”
Camelback Mountain has four trails, but the best known are Echo Canyon and Cholla, which reach the summit.
“You weren’t like a true Phoenician until you did at least Cholla, if not Echo,” Shore said.
Echo Canyon, with its steep roughly 1.2 mile hike to the summit, is considered more challenging than Cholla. Hikers gain about 1,280 feet in elevation as they navigate large boulders most of the way to the top.
Cholla Trail is a 1.42 mile hike and gains about 1,250 feet in elevation. Both Cholla and Echo Canyon take two to three hours to complete.
Cholla might sound like an easier trail because it’s less steep, but it comes with its own set of difficulties.
“You’ve got that east exposure, and par ticularly in the beginning part of the day,” said Jes Dobbs, owner of apparel brand Camelback Culture. “So I think one of the bigger dangers of Cholla is people think ing that it looks easy, but not preparing with that hydration and getting quickly dehydrated.”
Despite the dangers, both trails offer glimpses of wildlife, including Harris’s an
telope squirrels, quail, road runners, hawks, chuckwallas and the occasional rattlesnake.
For many, Camelback Mountain is more than just a hike; it’s a community. For Dobbs, the mountain was inspiration.
“In summer of 2017, I was looking at the mountain and this graphic came into my head,” said Dobbs, who used to be an in terior designer. “I made the first shirt by hand.” The image featured the mountain’s silhouette and looked similar to the Su perman logo.
Dobbs intended the shirt to be a oneoff, but others saw the unique design and wanted their own. That’s how Camelback Culture began.
The shirts became something of a uni form for avid Camelback hikers, who started to connect through Dobbs’ appar el. After making hundreds of shirts, Dobbs expanded the community by creating a so cial media page for hikers.
“I figured it would help create a real community vibe, more universally, so that people would just be able to claim sort of more of a home ownership for it,” Dobbs said. “I really felt that it would help keep it (Camelback Mountain) nicer so that we can kind of all become guardians of it.”
Dobbs knew some homeowners near
the Cholla trailhead didn’t want the trail to reopen, complaining of trespassing, trash and crime. So she took on the role of activ ist, pushing the city to be more transparent with the public and talking about how vital the mountain is for the hiking community.
“You do not park yourself on a natural resource that should be open to the pub lic, and then get upset that they want to access it,” Dobbs said. “I harassed the city, and anybody I could on my social media to open it because it belongs to the people, and keeping it closed is not the solution.”
When the trail reopened Sept. 30, Dobbs was there early in the morning handing bottles of cold water to hikers. She said people need to hike responsibly, which will help ensure the trail doesn’t close again.
“We want people to be smart and make smart choices. And those smart choices also help protect our first responders” Dobbs said. “If you drink enough water and pre-hydrate, then the rescuers don’t have to trek up the mountain 500 times over.” Dobbs said people often credit her for building the hiking community at Cam elback, but she said she simply “held up the mirror” for community members to find each other, and to cherish the natural wonder of the mountain.
Matt Tobias General Manager
especially if
been
not home when it
are unsure if yours should be changed, please give
PhoenixCity Council unanimously removed the only legal roadblock to the massive Upper Canyon de velopment in Ahwatukee by approving a General Plan amendment that changes the classifications of a portion of Chandler Boulevard and 27th Avenue.
And while the Oct. 12 vote clears the way for homebuilders Blandford Homes, D.R. Horton and Reserve 100 LLC to start construction, it’s unclear when that might begin because the housing market has radically changed since the beginning of the process that culminated with last week’s vote.
Council’s vote brought to an end a contentious process that never directly threatened construction of Ahwatukee’s biggest housing development in years.
Blandford paid $175.5 million in an auc tion last year for the 373-acre tract along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues with the intent of building 1,050 single-family houses, 150 townhous es, 329 apartments and 10 acres of some still undefined commercial development.
The land was rezoned for residential de velopment nearly two decades ago.
The homebuilder had originally asked for a street reclassification of the South Chandler Boulevard – as well as the two roadway bids Council approved – so that it would not have to widen the three-lane thoroughfare to five lanes.
But despite the backing of the city Plan ning Department and the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee, some city Planning Commission mem bers in August signaled concern about the builder’s request to keep South Chandler Boulevard three lanes.
The Village Planning Committee nar rowly recommended city approval of the builders’ request in a 5-4 vote during a meeting attended by the bare minimum number of panel members necessary for a vote.
The Planning Commission noted nu merous homeowners and others in Ah watukee’s western end, especially those in Promontory, Calabria and Foothills Re serve, were concerned about the impact of more traffic on response times for emer gency vehicles.
Upper Canyon development
Documents submitted to City Council prior to the vote show scores of people had lobbied the commission to reject the request and require the developer to wid en South Chandler Boulevard.
They noted fire and ambulance response times already are adversely impacted be cause of the distance between Ahwatukee’s only fire station on Chandler Boulevard near 41st Street.
Their concerns were underscored at a different City Council meeting last week where Fire Department officials said the average response time for fire engines and ambulances citywide is nearly twice the recommended national standard.
Opponents of the request to keep Chan dler Boulevard three lanes accused Bland ford of trying to save money while pre serving more land for homes.
In a surprising turn of events, Norris De sign, the builders’ zoning consultant, an nounced last month prior to the Planning Commission’s consideration of its street reclassification bids that it was withdraw ing the request to keep South Chandler Boulevard at three lanes.
It said the homebuilders would widen the thoroughfare even though they still feel it is not justified by the amount of traf fic their consultants estimate will be gen erated by the new homes and apartments.
Prior to last week’s vote, City Councilman
Sal DiCiccio thanked residents, the builders and city staff for reaching a compromise.
“I want to thank everybody, especially
the staff that worked on this,” DiCiccio said. “They did an amazing job. I don’t know how many meetings we’ve had on it. It involved quite a bit of public input for going on for probably two years. And a lot of it has to deal with the width and the structure of Chandler Boulevard on the southern end of my district.
“And I think that the staff did an amaz ing job of keeping it to where the public has wanted to stay there. But then as you go further west, it narrows because there was a lot less traffic there.
“There was a lot of concern regarding the emergency vehicles being able to get along get by there if there was ever an ac cident. And I just think we put together a really good compromise here.
“I want to thank the neighborhood. I want to thank the Village Planning Com mittee members that were involved in it, and particularly staff and we also want to thank Blandford Homes for the work that they did on this. It really kind of came to gether at the end.”
seamlesslytransitionsbetweendreamsandreality.
Introducing MILGARD® MOVING GLASS WALL SYSTEMS. This innovative solution blurs the line between inside and out of the question. Aspirational yet realistic, this sliding wall seamlessly transitions between dreams and reality.
Introducing MILGARD® MOVING GLASS WALL SYSTEMS. This innovative blurs the line between inside and out of the question. Aspirational yet this sliding wall seamlessly transitions between dreams and reality.
Available from Lasting Impressions. Stop by our design showroom.
E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ
Showroom Hours:
-
8:30-4:00
Fire officials say their re quest for part of the proposed $500 million bond issue that City Council may put before voters in November 2023 should provide a sufficient infrastructure of fire stations to better respond now and in the future to emergencies.
But getting that money will be a tough task – if not impossible.
Scores of capital project requests totaling well over $1.2 billion have been submitted to the executive committee that will pre pare a list of bond spending recommenda tions that will be submitted in January to City Council.
The Fire Department’s estimate to build seven fire stations would cost more than a quarter of the total $500 million the city says it can afford to borrow.
The department has requested $171 million in bond funds for seven stations.
Those proposed new facilities include
FIRE from page 1
sponse times are fire station locations and call volume.”
Neither is working well for Phoenix Fire and Kreis laid out the life-or-death conse quences, telling Council:
“We know that it only takes a few min utes for an object in a room to ignite. That fire is going to spread and a phenomenon known as flashover will occur. Once flash over occurs, all of the folks inside of that building are endangered and the building is a danger as well.
“Time is also important in the delivery of emergency medical services because we know that it only takes about four to six minutes for a person to be without an effective heartbeat or not breathing be fore brain damage and death.”
The problem starts with Phoenix’s growth and then is compounded by the city’s failure to expand the infrastructure of fire stations to meet that growth, Kreis said.
That means a fire station may need to send men and equipment well beyond the boundaries of its normal service area to help another station in an emergency.
In Ahwatukee, Executive Fire Chief Scott Walker told the Village Planning Commit tee in June that response time to western Ahwatukee communities like Calabria and
a fire station at 19th Avenue and Chan dler Boulevard that would address con cerns about lagging emergency response in western Ahwatukee communities like Promontory and Calabria.
Residents in Promontory already have complained that those lagging responses not only create obvious life-and-death is sues but also have pushed up the cost of fire insurance for property owners.
The Ahwatukee fire station is ranked ninth on a list of 10 priority public safety construction projects on the bond wish list submitted to the executive committee.
That makes the prospects of its addi tion to the final list of bond projects less certain.
City documents show the Fire Depart ment estimates the cost of the Ahwatukee fire station would be $11.3 million and that it will need $10.3 million from the bond and $1 million in impact fees – pre sumably from construction of the Upper Canyon development.
A new Ahwatukee station also would add $2.59 million in operating costs to the city’s annual budget, records show.
The cost of the proposed seven fire and three police facilities on the public safety bond wish list would require $190.8 mil lion of the $500 million bond issue. It would also add over $30 million in annual operating costs to the city’s budget.
But the public safety list will be compet ing with a number of other capital spend ing proposals that include upgrades or expansions of theaters and museums; pro posed engineering and nursing schools on city land along Rio Salado; repairs and upgrades at 1,248 run-down city garages, offices and other buildings.
Also included are: the preservation of 600 affordable housing units for seniors and low-income residents and creation of 364 new such units in the Edison-Eastlake community; a senior center next to the Ce sar Chavez Community Center; upgrades and repairs to libraries and historic struc
tures; upgrades and repairs at parks and trails; and massive upgrades and repairs for city streets, signs and traffic signals.
Whether the fire stations even get to City Council will depend on the special executive committee’s recommendations.
But then every council member next year will begin vying for projects in their district – or possibly trying to add new ones – once they get the panel’s recom mendations.
The timetable laid out by City Manager Jeff Barton earlier this year calls for Council to vote in March on whether to put the bond measure on a November 2023 mail ballot.
In that March vote, Council will have to agree on a list of projects the bond would finance.
While Barton early this year said $500 million was as much as the city could safe ly request in its first general obligation bond measure in 16 years, it is unclear how the recent changes in the current economy might affect a final number.
699 calls ranged from 10 minutes and 2 seconds in 195 incidents for one station to 8 minutes and 14 seconds for another sta tion to respond to 47 others.
Kreis said that of the city’s 58 fire sta tions, 32 over a year’s time deal with more than 4,000 overlapping 911 calls that oc cur within an hour. Only 17 stations con fronted that problem in 2020.
In all, 45 of the city’s 58 fire stations over a year’s time must deal with 4,000 overlap ping 911 calls that are made within a single 24-hour period. Two years ago, 40 fire sta tions were hit by daily overlapping calls.
In the last eight years, Phoenix has added 300,000 residents, according to Assistant Fire Chief Tim Kreis. That increase also is expected this year to generate 63,000 more calls for fire and ambulance services to the Phoenix Fire Department than there were in 2014, according to the department’s projection of the number of calls it will have received by Jan. 1.
Promontory by the community’s only fire station at 4110 E. Chandler Blvd. is well beyond the acceptable 5-minute standard.
And that response time is expected to worsen with the addition of more than 1,050 single-family homes, 150 townhous es and 329 apartments in the coming Up per Canyon development along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues.
Fueled by population growth, Phoenix Fire responded to 241,565 calls citywide last year and projects the 2022 total will
hit 242,163. Eight years ago, it answered 189,757 calls for fire or medical help.
To illustrate the problem, Kreis cited the busiest fire station in Phoenix – and Mari copa County.
In a 12-month period ending Sept. 31, he said, Fire Station 7 on E. Hatcher Road in north Phoenix responded to 5,894 calls for service. Of that total, the station missed 699 calls, forcing five stations far ther away to respond.
The average response times to those
Further fueling the crisis is a soaring number of firefighter and paramedic ab sences in the last two years brought on by vacations, sick time and other reasons.
That also affects the availability of per sonnel to man fire trucks and ambulances.
Total annual absences in the Fire De partment are projected to hit a new record this year with 52,000 – far more than the 32,026 recorded in 2014.
Coupled with about 143 vacant positions, the rising number of absences has forced the city to implement a mandatory over time rule affecting some 3,000 employees.
Barton in his memo told Council, “Since the program’s implementation, the Fire
Department has utilized the plan over 50
Additionally, the department imple mented a “brownout plan” in which sta tions that don’t have enough manpower on any given day are “unfortunately put out of service,” Kreis said.
“We’re in a bit of a pickle here,” he said. “This situation with activity levels and
staffing – it’s not sustainable for us and we know that the city is continuing to grow.”
Duran said the city must build new fire stations, hire additional personnel and find new ways to handle some service calls.
He said the department has a 20-year fire station construction plan and is “very hopeful” it will get the necessary funding from the $500 million bond issue the city may ask voters to approve next year. The department’s request faces stiff competi tion for cash from other city departments.
(See related story).
But even if it got all the money it needs, Phoenix Fire faces still other problems in building new fire stations that are brought on by supply chain disruptions.
“Also very important for us is to evolve our service delivery model,” Duran said. “A lot of this is balancing the call volume with more resources but also looking at evolv ing into new types of resources.”
That will involve measures like shifting 911 calls involving mental crises to the new civilian Community Assistance Pro gram unit that also will be handling simi lar calls to police.
Duran also said his department is talk ing with healthcare providers and other agencies to address health crises that would not require an ambulance by pro viding telehealth services.
Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief Tim Kreis, speaking Oct, 12 before City Council, out lined in stark detail the crisis his depart ment is facing. (YouTube)
Blandford and Reserve 100 originally indicated in planning documents that they hoped to begin construction late this year or next with an eye to hitting the market with the first homes in 2014.
But that was before the housing market dramatically changed.
Market analysts both in the Valley and across the country are reporting that builders are seeking fewer permits for new single-family home construction as mortgage rates rise and turn off more buyers.
At the same time, single-family housing permits are trending downward in Val ley municipalities, permits for apartment complexes are climbing.
During the same meeting in which the Upper Canyon requests were approved, Council okayed zoning and General Plan requests that pave the way for 2,187 pri marily multifamily units in Phoenix.
Analysts also report builders are slash ing prices and adding incentives to en tice new-home buyers, although homes prices are still at a level that many find unaffordable.
For example, Blandford cut the price of what it said are the last two houses in its 197-home Palma Brisa community at Frye Road and Desert Foothills Parkway, re ducing the price of one home from $1.09 million to $948,000 and the other from $954,000 to $859,905.
Blandford did not return a request for comment.
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Ahwatukee resident Kay West has jetted from Phoenix to south ern Africa and back six times in five years.
The only year she couldn’t go – usually with a team of local friends and support ers – was in 2020 when the pandemic im peded travel of any kind.
Along with her husband John, she is a co-founder of the Ahwatukee-based non profit Swaziserve, founded in 2010 after the couple sold their three-story Ahwatu kee home and all their possessions to go to Swaziland. The country since 2018 is called Eswatini, also written as “eSwatini.”
The Wests’ ministry was focused on spreading the word of God as well as help ing local women and children improve their lives through projects including feeding programs for children, the elderly, and at-risk families. The couple also es tablished an orphanage.
In 2014, West said, God called the couple to relocate across the border from Eswa tini to South Africa, where they ministered to the same Swazi tribe.
Her book “Refiner’s Gold: My Walk with God in the Rainbow Nation” relates their story in South Africa from 2014 to 2017.
While John West was very hands-on during their seven-year residence in Af rica, moving back to Ahwatukee has re quired his attention be focused on work ing to support himself and his wife while using his talents to also help Swaziserve.
“Kay and I work together as a team,” said John. “While she does the ‘up front’ mission work,’ I do the behind-the-scenes things like accounting, banking, format ting newsletters, and anything else I can do to support our mission of Swaziserve.”
A crucial part of his support actually in volves them both.
“Most of all, we pray together. We’re a small organization but do our very best to serve God and His people with excellence,” he said.
“John works full time to support us so that, unlike many other nonprofits, we do not take any salary,” said Kay. “Donations go directly to those we serve. We choose to live frugally so that I can focus full time on ministry.”
On their last trip July 5-28, COVID, the
Russia-Ukraine war and in-country riot ing and violence were part and parcel of experiences Kay and her fellow women travelers faced.
“Our team of four women had been planning for months for our sojourn in the countries of eSwatini and South Africa. When two of us contracted COVID only weeks before we were to leave, it was a little disconcerting, though we did recover in time,” West wrote in a missive to her fol lowers on Swaziserve.com.
Getting to and from southern Africa was arduous for the four women, who selected the best travel price but not the most ex pedient passage.
Their journey began with two days of travel and were met by a friend who fer ried them three hours to their first South Africa stop.
They visited over 20 villages, towns and cities in the two countries during their stay.
Their return trip required crossing the border from Eswatini into South Africa to Tambo International Airport in Johan nesburg. From there the women jetted to Frankfurt, Germany then on to Chicago and finally, Phoenix.
“In addition to our team of four from the U.S., we were accompanied by various Af rican ministry partners and friends along the way, who acted as interpreters as well
as helping us with all the shopping for do nations, distributions of donations, and so much more,” said West.
West said miracles followed as the vari ous countries’ COVID-19 travel require ments fell by the way.
“We were very relieved, but still had the test prior to crossing the border into eS watini to deal with. God took care of that, too,” she said.
“The news has been rife for months with stories of canceled flights, people stuck in airports, and luggage lost. In fact, some dear fellow missionaries, who traveled about the same time we did, had much of their luggage go missing. All six of our flights were without incident and all seven of our suitcases arrived on time and intact.”
She said COVID-19 has devastated the Eswatini/South Africa region.
“As Americans, we suffered from COVID economically, but for the people we serve in Africa, who already had nothing, the im pact was horrendous,” she said.
“Many were already surviving hand-tomouth with absolutely no money or abil ity to store food beyond their daily needs. So immediately many people went hun gry. Compounded by severe lockdowns at times, they couldn’t even go out to work or find food,” she reported.
“Their economic recovery has been hard,
just as ours has, but they started with less to begin with. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Swaziserve has been able to give funds for emergencies to approximately 30 families a month since early 2020.”
Further making life difficult for those served by Swaziserve are food shortages exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war. And then, the women faced frightening issues in-country.
“For three days when we were in South Africa, the news was of full-scale rioting and road closures happening in one city where we were to stay for several nights. The protests abruptly ended the evening before we were scheduled to travel there,” said West.
“We were to drive a certain road to reach several communities where just a month before a busload of people had been robbed and then murdered on the same route. Honestly, it is not a super-safe place to be, but God made a way and cov ered us,” she said.
As they prepared for their flight home, she added, “another large-scale protest began taking place in the area where we had been ministering for several days. Once again, we escaped unscathed.”
Kay has also been to Kenya in the past years as part of a medical mission team and stayed on to train women in another project in which she’s involved as Interna tional Leadership Developer for Southern Africa’ for Moms in Prayer International (MIP). In that capacity she oversees lead ership development in 14 countries.
In both, she lauds her local ministry partners who oversee and are actively in volved in a plethora of projects.
Swaziserve partners run a feeding site for more than 100 children and the or phanage, provide and raise chickens in vil lages that allows the communities to earn money. They also run sewing programs, employment assistance for a rural clinic and other projects.
“They are the locals and can do the min istry so much better than we ever could,” said West.
Swaziserve supporters, locally and be yond, have helped keep current projects moving forward, and helped add new ones such as the children’s sponsorship program establish by the Wests after re
turning to Arizona.
“We continue to be so grateful to our wonderful Ahwatukee neighbors for your compassionate support of not only those in our community, but also for people across the globe,” said West.
She praised their generosity, which she said “continues to help widows, orphans, and families who are in desperate need know that they are not forgotten.”
She said Bridgeway Community Church in Ahwatukee has been very supportive of Swaziserve since its inception.
“One recent example is that our church raised over $5,000 for the team to use during their trip to purchase basic needs as gifts for over 200 women and their fam ilies,” she said.
Kay is actively involved in public speak ing and recently addressed a conference at Arizona Christian University and she has been a featured speaker with Moms in Prayer International.
She has also published “Refiner’s Fire; My Walk With God in the Kingdom of Swa ziland” and “Refiner’s Gold: My Walk With God in the Rainbow Nation,” which are available on Amazon.
A third book ‘Threads of Gold’ is expect ed to be completed later this year.
“This one will be a little different from my first two books. It’s a compilation of the stories of the African women them selves, taken from in-depth interviews with them that I had the privilege of do ing,” she said.
Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.
The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance
problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious
cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.
The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.
Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.
1. Finding the underlying cause
2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)
3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition
Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.
Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:
1. Increases blood flow
2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves
3. Improves brain-based pain
The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling
It’s completely painless!
The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!
Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.
Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until October 31st 2022. Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment
Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers. Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274 3157 NOW!!
We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Aspen Medical 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206
As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves
Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:
Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
worry about, it is roughly twice as hard to get a contract all the way through escrow as it was this time last year.”
ome sellers and prospective buyers are confronting more disturbing trends in the Valley housing mar ket, according to a leading analyst.
On Oct. 12, the same time the Septem ber Consumer Price Index report showed that inflation had risen 8.2% year over year last month nationally – the Phoenix metro increase has not yet been released – the Cromford Report offered what might seem like a kick in the gut.
It said, “As if we didn’t have enough to
Earlier last week, the Cromford Report posted two charts that illustrated the rap id change in the market. One chart showed how listings under contract plummeted from just over 12,000 in April to about 7,000 by the beginning of October.
The other chart showed the listing suc cess rate dropping from around 92% to 66% in that same time period, although the Cromford Report said, “The Greater
Phoenix market has experienced long pe riods where the listing success rate was below 50%, so although market sentiment is poor, the listing success rate is not a rea son to feel bad.”
Yet, it added, “There is just not enough work to go around. Most experienced and successful professionals will continue to prosper but those who have not planned how to deal with the new situation will probably struggle for quite some time.”
The Cromford Report had warned ear lier this month that late September pro duced discouraging data.
“After several weeks of reasonably neu tral moves the market is starting to turn unpleasant again,” it said. “This is particu larly true of the last week of September, and October is off to a very poor start.”
Phoenix REALTORS, a membership group of more than 11,000 Realtors, was not nearly as gloomy.
“With the wild ride Arizona has seen over the past year, we’re finally seeing the market normalizing,” said Andrea Crouch, board president of Phoenix REALTORS. “Prices are still strong and increased in ventory is giving buyers more options than they have had in recent months.”
While the average number of days homes remain on the market has increased from 29 days in September 2021 to 47 days last month, she noted, the market is also see ing greater home inventory. It currently sits at three months, compared to Septem ber 2021, when only one month of supply was the reality, Crouch said.
“Both sellers and buyers are getting some much-needed breathing room from the chaos we were seeing earlier this year,” said Crouch, adding:
“Sellers are now having the opportunity to thoughtfully assess a more reasonable,
and realistic, number of offers, while buy ers are being spared from having to make what were often on-the-spot, snap deci sions with their REALTORS.”
It added that rising mortgage rates are discouraging buyers from continuing their hunt for a home as well as sellers from keeping their houses on the market.
By the end of last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged up from 6.66% to 6.92%, according to Freddie Mac.
And Realtor.com last week said its cal culations showed that as a result of those mortgage rate increases, “buyers who pur chase a home are paying about 80% more for the same house than if they had bought at the same time last year.”
The Cromford Report said that the Val ley’s current trend in contract signings in dicates that the volume of completed sales “is not likely to recover quickly. Instead we are more likely to see volumes head lower still in the short term.”
It also said, “Seller confidence has been crushed over the past five months and the recent trends are going to do nothing to help.
“This means buyers will get more con fident in their bargaining position and this is negative for pricing,” it continued, noting the monthly median sales price “is down 7.6% from the peak of $475,000 last seen on June 29.”
“If mortgage rates had remained be tween 5% and 6% we might have seen a slow recovery taking place by now, but the Federal Reserve kicked the market while it was down and looks ready to kick it again,” it warned.
“We need listings under contract to move above 8,500 to be experiencing signs of a recovery and the current 7,500 level is not even enough to absorb the relatively slow arrival rate of new supply.”
This tri-level home on S. Honah Lee Court in Ahwatukee recently sold for $1.5 million. Built in 1988, the 4,317-square-foot, four-bedroom and bath house boasts a gourmet kitchen, home theater and balconies among numerous other amenities. (Special to AFN)
Fannie Mae down-shifted its forecast for total home sales and price increases.
“We now anticipate 2022-year end home prices to rise 9.0 percent, down from a previous forecast of 16.0 percent,”
it said last week, adding:
“For 2023, we project home price de clines of 1.5%, down from our prior fore cast of home price growth of 4.4%.”
This 4,969-square-foot house on E. Cathedral Rock Drive in Ahwatukee recently sold for $1.4 million. Built in 1996, the four-bedroom, three-bath house is on a secluded hillside with stunning views that can be enjoyed through a wall window or from a negative edge pool.
(Special to AFN)
Rent in the Valley isn’t the only thing that’s seeing a steady increase.
The number of eviction cases in Maricopa County justice Courts also has been rising.
“Eviction filings continue to rise,” Mari copa County Justice Courts spokesman Scott Davis reported last week.
September marked the third consecutive month “where filings are higher than they have been since October 2008,” he said.
In October 2008, justice courts in Maricopa County took in 6,975 eviction cases. Last month, 6,685 eviction cases were filed
But the big difference between then and now is the size of judgments filed against tenants who are evicted.
“So far in 2022 the average judgment against tenants just rose to $3,337. In 2008 it was $1,750,” Davis said. “As I usually point out, not only was the population different then, but so was the economy.”
But the difference in the size of judg ments is not just a matter of a difference between 14 years. Soaring rents have had an additional impact.
“In 2019, the first full year before the pandemic, the average judgment was $1,976,” Davis said. “Judges who hear eviction cases say a small portion of the increase is due to landlords catching up from the pandemic on past amounts due, but mostly it relates to the higher lease amounts that tenants pay.”
Rents have risen dramatically across the country and tenants in the Valley are among the hardest hit.
Rents in the Phoenix are more than 45%
After the pandemic-related ban on evictions, court cases against tenants, generally related to nonpayment of rent have. been steadily increasing in Maricopa County, especially over the last three months. (Maricopa County Justice Courts)
higher than they were last year, and in creased on average by more than $700 in the past year, according to some reports.
Other reports say that between 2016 and 2021, average rent in the Valley soared by 80%.
That partly explains not only why many existing multifamily complexes across the region have been sold for twice what the seller paid for them within a matter of two to four years, but also explains a signifi cant increase in the number of building permits that have been issued in the past year for new apartment projects.
Last week, Mayor Kate Gallego noted at the end of the City Council meeting that on Oct. 12 alone, Council approved zon ing changes for projects with a total 2,187 new apartments.
A third trend in eviction cases involves a relatively new state law that requires jus tice courts to seal the details of an eviction case under certain circumstances.
David said that as of Oct. 6, sealed cases stood at 248 after the law went into effect only two weeks earlier.
“That is unprecedented and due directly to HB2485,” he said.
The new law requires that an eviction case be sealed when any of the following conditions are met:
• A filed case is dismissed before the judge rules, as when, for example, a tenant pays the rent or the land lord’s paperwork is found to be de ficient;
• A tenant wins a favorable ruling; After a judgment, the parties file a written agreement to set aside and seal the case.
• Advocates who pushed for the law said unsealed cases that end ed well for tenants can still come back to unfairly haunt them. They can hurt their future prospects for finding a new home and even harm their job prospects in an ex tensive background check. There is no statute of limitations in the law, so even very old cases can be sealed if they meet the criteria set out in the law.
Online home-shar ing, such as Airbnb, VRBO and Home Away, has become increas ingly popular for both hosts and guests.
According to a recent study by Roof stock, a real estate investment market place, about 10.6 million people in the U.S. earn money from more than 17 million rental properties.
According to Statista, there will be 64.7 million home-sharing users in 2022 and more than 68 million in 2023.
While it can be very appealing for the property owner to secure extra income, there are risks associated with renting out your home to strangers. Knowing these risks and liabilities before jumping in can save you a lot of headaches and fu
ture expenses.
Below is a list of four things to consider before renting out your home:
Follow city, county and state regula tions. When considering home sharing, it’s important to understand your city, county and state laws.
For example, in Phoenix, renters are required to be registered with the City of Phoenix, and all residential rental units – including vacation and short-term rent als – must be registered with Maricopa County.
It’s also important to consider your con tracts with leases, condo boards, mort gage lenders, HOAs, etc. There may be limitations you need to be aware of.
Be aware of tax implications. You’ll have to pay taxes on your earnings, but you can also deduct some expenses related to your rental. It’s also important to understand the various taxes applicable when renting
your home.
Phoenix assesses a sales tax on prop erty rentals and a transient lodging tax for guest stays less than 30 days. Consulting a tax expert is always a good idea.
Check your insurance. Before renting out your house, you must ensure you have appropriate insurance coverage. Most homeowners assume they have protec tion under their homeowners’ policy, but this may not be the case.
Websites like Airbnb offer some prop erty protection for hosts against property damage by a guest but do not include li ability insurance. You may need to invest in an umbrella insurance policy that will cover loss due to injury, loss of belongings or damage to your home.
If you rent your home with Airbnb, Ho meAway, VRBO or the like, you will need landlord protection insurance or vacation rental insurance.
Know what you are getting into. Rent ing your home short-term can be a big re sponsibility. In addition to the above-men tioned risks, a renter should also consider additional expenses that will incur, such as stocking the home with all the neces sities like towels, kitchen essentials, toilet paper, etc.
It’s also likely you will see higher-thannormal utility bills. Additionally, Airbnb, for example, charges hosts 3% per reser vation. And, of course, don’t have anything in the home that you’d be heartbroken of if it was damaged.
If you’re thinking of renting your home out as a side hustle, don’t forget to do your research. There’s much more to it than just deciding and listing it on websites like Airbnb. Consult with an attorney on the legal implications and do your homework
estate rules that are now OK to break.
Evenwith rising interest rates and inflation, a recent survey by fin tech mortgage lender Lower found that nearly 6 in 10 potential homebuyers (56%) felt that right now was the right time to buy a house.
How is that possible? While higher in terest rates mean some potential buyers will find themselves unable to qualify for a mortgage, this cooling demand benefits the buyers who are still out there, giving them more options—and a little more ne gotiating power.
Granted, exactly how much power buyers have will vary by location—certain stub bornly hot markets will remain a struggle. But the prevailing winds are blowing a bit more in favor of buyers these days.
Here are some of the pandemic-era real
1. If you love a house, make an offer im mediately. These days, there may be a little more time to think before you make an offer.
Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale noted that homes are taking longer to sell this year than last.
“In general, you likely have more time to make an offer, although that’s certainly not a guarantee,” said Hale. “If you’re on the fence about a home or its asking price doesn’t quite fit your budget, you might want to keep an eye on it, and if it doesn’t sell right away, you may have some room to negotiate with the seller.”
2. Prepare to pay way over the asking price.
Buyers no longer need to pay over the list price to get the house. In fact, Realtor. com data shows that the share of homes with price cuts has reached nearly 20% today, up from 11% a year earlier.
3. Once you’re pre-approved for a mort gage, you’ll know what you can afford. During the pandemic, interest rates were at historic lows. So when people got preapproved for a mortgage, they could prob ably assume it would hold once they found a home they wanted to buy.
Today, however, the wild volatility of mortgage rates means that what home buyers could afford to buy could vary from one week to the next.
Hale recommends regularly “stresstesting” your budget by running the num bers on a wide range of possible mortgage interest rates so that you can be prepared no matter what happens.
“Recent mortgage rates have been mov ing up and down enough to impact home shopping budgets in a big way,” said Hale.
In other words, pre-approval is no guar antee; make sure to check again at current
interest rates before making an offer that is within your financial reach.
4. Waiving contingencies is worth the risk. During the peak of COVID-19, many homebuyers were waiving contingencies left and right. From forgoing home inspec tions to adding appraisal waivers, buyers were putting themselves in a risky posi tion just to win a bid on a home. That is changing as the market becomes more balanced between sellers and buyers.
Contingencies not only protect home buyers, but can also bolster their borrow ing power.
5. Don’t dare ask a seller for conces sions. During the pandemic, asking a seller for concessions probably meant los ing the deal. But now that mortgage rates have topped 6%, asking for a little finan cial help is no longer verboten.
Realtor.com provided this report.
Enjoy superb mountain views from custom single-level luxury home in gated Summerhill. Exquisite courtyard entry opens to spectacular foyer and gorgeous travertine flooring throughout. Spacious gourmet kitchen boasts large island with bar top, stainless viking appliances, granite countertops, custom alder cabinetry, walk-in pantry, desk and breakfast room. Stacked-stone fireplace in family room. Theatre room with components and recliner seating. Master suite features two-way fireplace, sitting room with wet bar, patio access and connected office. Meticulously maintained and move-in ready with 2022 interior paint. Trane hvac units replaced in 2018 and 2019. Backyard amenities include extended covered patio with pavers, built-in bbq, fireplace, plus pebble tec pool with waterfall and spa.
Floor plan includes both a formal living and dining room. Exquisite touches throughout include 24” polished travertine flooring, plantation shutters, emerson ceiling fans, surround sound speakers, crown molding and solid core 8’ doors. Master bathroom features include granite counters, stone tub and shower surrounds, large walk-in shower with two shower heads including rain head, Jacuzzi tub, raised-panel alder cabinetry and large walk-in closet. Two secondary bedrooms feature ensuite baths. Third secondary bedroom with built-in cabinetry. Fifth bedroom is a den with no closet off of the master suite. Secondary bathrooms all feature stone counters and shower surrounds. Huge laundry room with extra cabinetry, stone counters and sink. Extended outdoor living space from large covered patio with gorgeous pavers throughout. 3-Car-garage with Tesla charging station. Reduced energy costs from existing solar panels.
5 BEDROOM, 5.5 BATHS NEWER BUILD AND RECENTLY REMODELED*GREAT CURB APPEAL!*OPEN AND BRIGHT WITH HIGHLY CUSTOMIZED FINISHES*FAMILY ROOM W/FIREPLACE*WETBAR WITH WINE FRIDGE/ STORAGE*KITCHEN INCLUDES: S/S APPLIANCES,GAS COOKTOP,CUSTOM CABINETS,MARBLE COUNTERS,FARM SINK,ISLAND, & WALK-IN PANTRY*LARGE MASTER SUITE WITH HIS/HER CLOSETS*SPA LIKE MASTER BATH W/LARGE WALK-IN GLASS SHOWER,SOAKING TUB,& DUAL VANITIES*UPGRADED FIXTURES THROUGHOUT*RECESSED LIGHTING*EXTRA BEDROOM DOWNSTAIRS*UPSTAIRS BONUS/GAME/FLEX ROOM WITH CAMELBACK MTN VIEWS*3 VERY LARGE BEDROOMS W/ENSUITE BATHS*2ND LAUNDRY ROOM UPSTAIRS*FRESHLY PAINTED*EXTREMELY
separate articles re cently published by CNBC and the Phoenix Business Journal, both re ported that the number of homebuyers backing out of real estate contracts in creased to record-setting levels in the last three months.
According to the articles, 21.6% of buy ers in the Phoenix-area market called off their real estate deals in August, which was the sixth highest rate out of the top 50 U.S. markets. Our firm has seen a steady uptick in calls regarding contract cancella tions over the last several months.
Backing out of a real estate contract is not without risk.
If a buyer backs out of a contract without a valid reason, the buyer may be required to forfeit their earnest money or (lots) more. Indeed, under the contract utilized by most buyers and sellers in Arizona, there are two primary remedies available to a seller when a buyer improperly can cels a real estate contract.
The seller can keep the buyer’s earnest money. Alternatively, the seller can sue the buyer for breach of contract. In such a scenario, the seller could seek much more in money damages than the amount of the earnest money. And, in many cases, a court may order the buyer to pay the seller’s le gal fees, as well.
Therefore, it is imperative for buyers to carefully consider their rationale for can celling a real estate contract and consider the risks associated with an improper can cellation.
As a reminder, if a seller gets cold feet and decides to back out of a real estate deal, the buyer also has two primary remedies.
In such a situation, a buyer may seek money damages from the seller, which may include the price to be paid for similar real estate, moving expenses, and a num ber of other items. Additionally, the buyer has the ability to seek an order of specific performance from a court. Such an order would require that the seller convey the property to the buyer.
In short, there are various reasons for the uptick in those cancelling their real estate contracts. These days, many of the
cancellations relate to a buyer finding a home they like more, or someone getting cold feet because of economic concerns.
Both of these reasons could very well be improper depending on the terms of your existing real estate contract. No mat ter the reason, backing out of a real estate contract, whether for a valid or an invalid reason, can be a nightmare for the parties. And, if done improperly or untimely, a can cellation can be quite costly.
If you are a seller and a buyer has pro vided you with what seems to be an im proper cancellation, it is best to seek legal guidance on your next steps. Similarly, if you are a buyer and your seller wants to back out of your real estate deal, a discus sion with a real estate attorney may be very beneficial.
In both circumstances, the timing of seeking legal guidance is usually critical, as title companies, the counter-party, real estate agents, and even third-party buyers, may all be affected by your next move.
Ahwatukee resident Patrick MacQueen has formed a new law firm called Med alist Legal. Reach him at pmacqueen@ medalistlegal.com
Ahwatukee
w/amazing
foyer,
& scotsman
room w/canterra
dishwasher,copper
kitchen
custom stonework
mountain
Cus
with mountain
at the
of
cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury
Bedroom,5.5 Baths.Custom Kitchen.Elevator.Executive
ahwatukee
of marble,canter ra,travertine, & granite, large master ste w/sitting area & 2 separate full
Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, Sportcourt.This
other
home
cus
amazing
Ostendorp
GERI KOEPPEL AFN Contributor
The Ahwatukee Community Garden says it’s time to grow a new crop of people to run and maintain the gar den and an Oct. 11 Zoom meeting with 20 participants looked to be a good start.
“It’s been a nice journey,” said Linda Rominger, director of the garden. “I’ve met so many wonderful people and made a lot of good friends through this process, and I hope a lot of you would like to get involved, too.”
Several people offered to volunteer, and Robert Blakesley, property and finance di rector of the Ahwatukee Board of Manage ment, said the homeowners association has a keen interest in keeping the garden going and would discuss its potential in volvement at its meeting today, Oct. 19.
The Ahwatukee Community Garden be gan about a decade ago with nothing but a plot of land by the basketball courts at the
The Ahwatukee Community Garden relies on a dedicated group of volunteers. (Courtesy Ah watukee Community Garden group)
ABM offices at 4700 E. Warner Road.
Since then, a devoted core group of about
10 to 20 volunteers through the years planted fruit and fig trees, installed irriga
tion, built raised beds for growing food, put up fences for keeping critters out, had a shed constructed for storing tools and supplies, and kept the garden going.
However, most of those volunteers have moved away, passed away or have health problems that prevent them from being active, Rominger said. She’s been involved for more than eight years and has to step back due to health issues.
Now, it’s time for the garden to regen erate.
“All they need to do is come in and just take over and decide which direction to go in,” Rominger said, adding, “It’s time to re organize and see what people want in the neighborhood.”
Gardening skills are not required to get involved. New leadership is needed, in cluding a director for the LLC filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission and volunteers in key roles such as social me
Ahwatukee resident Shanté Sauls berry will host a fundraiser to support a planned women’s shel ter than honor a special employee at the Chick-fil-A in Ahwatukee.
The Tour of Paris Benefit Gala aims to honor Omar White while raising funds for Saulsberry’s longtime project to build a special kind of shelter for women and their children.
That campus would include tiny homes built out of refurbished 275-square-foot cargo containers where the women could live “studio apartment-style” safely as they learn job and life skills that would lead to a productive independence with their children.
Saulsberry’s vision just didn’t come from her childhood.
Ahwatukee resident Shanté Saulsberry will sponsor a gala to raise funds for her pro posed Janice’s Women’s Shelter on Nov. 3. (Special to AFN)
It was also inspired by what she encoun tered on Ahwatukee’s streets shortly after
she moved here.
“Once COVID started happening, every day I started assisting a homeless woman here in Ahwatukee and after numerous at tempts of not being able to assist her be cause the other shelters were full or the in take process was just too thorough and she didn’t meet the requirements, I decided that I needed to do something different.”
The woman’s name was Janice.
So she began working on the concept for Janice’s Women’s Center.
“I decided I needed to open my own shelter and change the stigma behind the process and make sure that my shelter was different and small.”
Saulsberry said she is focused on raising money for the center’s construction.
“While the center currently does not have a location, it has still been helping women by working with local organiza
tions and coordinating efforts to help atrisk women get shelter” and needed ser vices, she said.
As for Omar, Saulsberry called him a “dedicated Chick-fil-A employee who has done his part in spreading kindness into the world, while also exemplifying ut most service standards with his time at Chick-fil-a on Ray Road and 50th Street in Ahwatukee.
“Honoring kind people and giving them the platform to inspire others is of utmost importance to The Janice’s Women’s Cen ter,” she added.
The gala will be held Nov. 3 at The Scott sdale Resort 7700 E. McCormick Pkwy., Scottsdale.
“Here at The Janice’s Women’s Center, we want to leverage the power of the com
to helping people become better speakers and leaders.
Ahwatukee Chamber Toastmas
ters Club will mark its 10-year an niversary at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, with an Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce ribocutting ceremony.
The public is invited to the ceremony in the community room at Esperanza Lu theran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Ahwatukee. People who plan to attend should email president-1811442@toast mastersclubs.org.
Since 2012 the club has been dedicated
Ahwatukee Chamber Toastmasters Club “provides a supportive and positive envi ronment where members can overcome their fear of public speaking and sharpen presentation skills,” said club President Mary Bogdanov, who holds the title of Dis tinguished Toastmaster.
Among the club’s members are Cristina Alamdari, ACB, and Nick Knight, ACS, orig inal charter members of the club.
Alamdari said a member wrote the club,
“I just wanted to reach out to thank all of
you guys for the help and support that you gave me while I was attending. I definitely would not have been confident enough to take on this role (project manager) if it wasn’t for all the practice and encourage ment that I received over the summer. So once again, thank you all for helping me get to where I am now. Toastmasters genuinely has had a huge positive impact on my life.”
Chartered with 21 members in 2012 Ahwatukee Chamber Toastmasters Club 01811442 is in District 3.
It meets every Friday at 8 a.m. at Esper anza Lutheran.
Toastmasters International is a world wide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.
Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the organization’s membership exceeds 280,000 with more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries.
Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse back grounds become more confident speak ers, communicators, and leaders. For in formation about local Toastmasters clubs: toastmasters.org.
pacts beyond the community.
dia, marketing and educational outreach.
Of course, the garden also needs ongo ing maintenance, but no experience is nec essary with this, either.
“You don’t really need to be a gardener,” Rominger said.
She and others are available to call upon for advice, and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s master gardener program has “tons of information,” she added. They do, however, need someone knowledgeable to maintain the irrigation lines and controls.
People on the Zoom offered to assist with everything from administrative tasks to giving talks at the library.
Two women mentioned they regularly take their kids to the garden and wanted to get involved to make sure it doesn’t wither.
Shannon Brown said, “I would hate to see this garden go away. It really has been a joy for my family, and I imagine it brings a lot of joy to the rest of the community as well.”
Blakesley’s comment that he would raise the issue with the board was a hopeful note. Rominger said the ABM has been “extremely, extremely support ive” of the garden through the years by providing the space, paying for the gar den’s water, providing labor for building the shed, and more.
The garden’s main expenses have been things like building materials, buying com post and installing and maintaining irriga tion lines, which were recently re-done.
“Going forward, there shouldn’t be a big need for money,” Rominger said – except
for some new tools.
“Most of our tools have been scrounged,” she noted.
And fundraising isn’t a big deal, Rominger said, because the garden’s an nual budget of about $1,400 comes almost solely from a partnership with SeedMon ey, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
It hosts an annual online fundraiser from Nov. 15–Dec. 15 that allows people to make tax-deductible donations to their
local community gardens and provides some matching funds.
Anyone can volunteer in the garden, no matter where they live in Ahwatukee or outside the community.
Historically, a group has gathered on Sunday mornings so it doesn’t conflict with youth sports held on Saturdays, but the new members can discuss whether they want to meet on other dates and times.
The garden has had far-reaching im
A handful of people over the years went through the U of A master gardener program after becoming involved in the Ahwatukee Community Garden, Rominger said.
And several boys did Eagle Scout proj ects in the garden, including one in 2019 who planted “a pollinator garden in honor of his uncle who had been into horticul ture and died suddenly,” she noted.
In addition, the garden is one of several sites nationwide that a team at Bowling Green State University is using to research the impact of climate change and urban ization on bees.
They come a couple times a year to study which type of bees are present and take their temperatures, Rominger said. One bee in the garden set a record so far with a temperature of 119 degrees.
Rominger said she was happy to see how many new people are interested and is pleased that the ABM might lend more support as well.
“It was encouraging to see how many people have been impacted by the gar den and want it to continue,” she said, “including the ABM and families in the neighborhood.”
The next step for the Ahwatukee Com munity Garden is a face-to-face meeting at a time determined is best for most people based on results from an online survey posted on the group’s Facebook page and sent via email.
To get on the email list or for more information, email ahwcomgarden@ gmail.com or text 602-524-5027.
munity and gear it towards helping mar ginalized groups,” Saulsberry. said.
“Our efforts revolve around doing any thing we can to help homeless women and domestic abuse survivors find shelter, independence, and work opportunities to get back on their feet.
“While we are currently working with out a physical shelter location, we have a blueprint ready for the construction of a shelter that will effectively provide all the services needed for at-risk women and children.”
She said the gala will offer “a night full of fun and immersive experiences, while using all the proceeds to help The Janice’s Women’s Center get one step closer to its goal of helping more women.”
The gala will feature a red-carpet expe rience and a photo booth, followed by a Iive auction hosted by Celebrity Auction eer Letitia Frye.
More details and ticket options are at: eventbrite.com/e/a-tour-of-paris-tick ets-324404311027.
Care 4 the Caregivers, an Ahwatukee-based organization, is celebrating November, Arizona Family Caregiver month, with events around the Valley specifically designed for people rais ing children with disabilities.
“Caring for a child with a disability can be a lonely endeav or and one that impacts every aspect of a person’s life,” said founder Michele Thorne of Ahwatukee. “These caregivers are regularly isolated, experience a loss of self-identity, and are unsure of their future and that of their children. They often feel unseen and unsupported.
Care 4 the Caregivers was created with one mission--to make sure that caregivers know they are both seen and supported.”
Her group has directly served over 500 families in Arizona with support groups, life coaching, parent-empowerment class es, and community events. The group also provides free online resources that include educational webinars, service roadmaps, visual tools, fitness programs, and guided meditations.
The November events include two 100-person paint nights at the Arizona Opera Black Box Theater. A 100-seat celebration dinner at the Coronado Venue and a spa day experience at Modern Allo.
“Care 4 the Caregivers is hosting these events this Novem ber in honor of our hardworking community. Each experience is designed to build connections, allow families access to es sential self-care, and explore some of the supports Care 4 the Caregivers has to offer,” Thorne said.
Those interested in participating in these, or any, Caregiver events can join the mailing list or go to the events page of the website to register at care4thecaregivers.org/events.
The Ahwatukee Women’s Social Club, open to women 16 and up has scheduled two big events for which tickets are now on sale.
The first is a family-friendly Chili for Charity Cook-off to benefit the Kyrene Family Resource Center. The BYOB event will be held noon-3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Club West Community Center, 16400 S. 14th Ave.
Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family. Bring a non perishable food item and receive a raffle ticket. The family ticket includes four 50/50 raffle tickets, Fritos, hot dogs, cook ies, bottled water and a voting ticket.
Entertainment will be provided by Chris Donnelly. Tickets are available with cash, Venmo or Zelle. Information: Jean at djazpa@gmail.com or Lori at Lori.battista@gmail.com
The second event is Putting on the Ritz, 6:30-10 p.m. Dev. 7 at Wild Horse Pass’ Palo Verde Ballroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Women ages 16 and up are invited to “get dolled up” and meet other women from Ahwatukee to celebrate a hear of socializing.
The $100 tickets include hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, din ner buffet, raffles and dancing. Cocktail attire is optional and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are available at sendomatic. com/AWSCRITZ.
Ahwatukee Book Club for Women is open to local women who enjoy reading quality books and participating in interest
ing discussions.
They meet the second Tuesday morning of each month. If interested in joining this group, contact Nina at 860-510-9363.
Esperanza Lutheran Church members have organized the Ahwatukee Foothills CROP Hunger Walk through Church World Services to raise $25,000. Participants can walk for 1 mile or 3.4 miles, the average round-trip distance women and children in the developing world walk for water.
The walk starts at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace SW, Ahwatukee.
Of the money collected, 75% will be used by CWS globally to respond to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. The remaining 25% will be donated to the Kyrene Family Resource Center through The Kyrene Foundation to help stock food shelves.
Businesses wanting to sign on as supporters – as well as walkers and people who simply want to donate to the cause –can go to events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/event/phoenixaz.
The team said people can register as individuals or a group. Esperanza Pastor Annemarie Burke said people with questions can contact CROP.hunger.walk@myesperanza.org or call the church office at 480-759-1515.
Registration is open for Ahwatukee dance and fitness in
structor Carrie McNeish’s fall line dancing and AZ Two Step Couples dance classes in both evening and daytime formats.
She’s also helping out with planning Cactus Jack’s annual Halloween party starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the bar on the southwest corner of 48th Street and Elliot Road.
The party will include line dancing lessons and open danc ing, treats, raffles and costumes. Information: dancemeetsfit ness.net, cmcneish@cox.net.
The third annual Tukee Trot 5K is back on for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25 with the course and venue hosted at Desert Vista High School and the walk chip-timed and USATF-sanction. The nonprofit event will benefit the Kyrene Foundation. Early registration is now open at racerooster.com. There also is a 1-mile Kids Quail Fun Run around Vista Canyon Park. Event sponsors and volunteers are sought. Contact: tuke etrot@cox.net.
Democrats and Donuts meeting set for today in Chandler with some candidates
Democrats & Donuts meets at 8 a.m. today, Oct. 19 at Denny’s, 7400 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. Look for interest ing speakers and great Bada Bing Raffle baskets by Judy Wade.
Guests are four Democratic candidates for Phoenix City Council District 6 – Harry Curtin, Joan Greene, Mark Moer emans, and Kellen Wilson; Kathy Hoffman, seeking re-election for Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Kyrene Govern ing Board candidates Kevin Walsh and Triné Nelson.
People are asked to arrive a little earlier to get seated and
put in their breakfast order in before 8. The hosts will be there by 7:30. Information: Julia Fleeman at juliafleeman@cox.net.
Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Ah watukee is holding a free Oktoberfest at Esperanza 6-9 p.m. Oct. 29.
The public is invited but asked to register by calling 480759-1515.
The Foothills Golf Course Ladies League is ready to start up in advance of a formal opening Nov. 1.
The league plays 18 holes of handicap golf every Tuesday morning from September through May. Play includes weekly games, prizes and friendly competition. If you are interested email Marsha Morris at marshacmorris@gmail.com.
Poetry in the Park, presented by the East Valley Poet, a branch of the Arizona State Poetry Society, invites the public to the free Poetry in the Park 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 19 at Kiwanis Park, 6111 S. All America Way, Tempe.
Members of the group will read their work followed by an open mic.
Information: evpoets@yahoo.com or eastvalleypoets. wordpress.com. For a map of Kiwanis Park and the Ramada location, please go to: tempe.gov/home/showpublished document/79513/637153743620100000.
Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, pres ents a variety of programs for children, teens and adults. Un less otherwise noted, free tickets are required and available 30 minutes before programs’ start times at the library’s informa tion desk.
For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.
Babytimes - Babies ages birth to 23 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and inter active fun every Tuesday, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.
Toddlertimes - Toddlers ages 24-36 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and in teractive fun every Thursday, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.
Full STEAM ahead for kids - Children ages 5-11 can explore hands-on creative ways to design, experiment, and invent ev ery Saturday, 2-3 p.m., in this Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) program. Space is limited to 10 families. It will not be held Oct. 18.
Next Chapter Book Club - This inclusive communitybased book club is designed for people ages 12+ with intel lectual and developmental disabilities who have a desire to make friends, explore their community, and read (regardless of current reading ability).
This weekly gathering is free and occurs every Wednesday, from 3-4 p.m. Registration required in the library or online in the calendar section of the library’s website.
Sit, stay, read! - Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy dog/handler team. Read with Raven Oct. 27, 3:30-4:30pm.
Book Club - Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow bib liophiles the first Wednesday of each month, 5:00-5:45 p.m.
On Nov. 2, “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell will be discussed.
Escape Room - Sleuths from age 12 on up can flex their mystery-solving skills during one of the library’s escape room sessions on Oct. 22. Sessions can accommodate up to 12 peo ple. Teams and solo players are welcome. Sessions are 2-2:30 p.m., 2:45-3:15 p.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Red Cross blood drive - People ages 16+ can give blood in the American Red Cross Blood Mobile in the library’s parking lot
Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Appointment times can be found by going to redcrossblood.org and selecting the “Donating Blood” option. Masks are optional.
Mountain Pointe Theatre Company students are ready to scare the wits out of you this weekend and next. The young thespians will be presenting the company’s annual “haunted school” 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 2829.
Part of the school, 4102 E. Knox Road, Ahwatukee, will host a number of scary scenes. Admission for the show, titled “Hell’s Gate,” is $10 and parking is free.
The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club invites interested people to attend one of its weekly meetings at 7 a.m. Thursdays at Bis cuits Restaurant in the Safeway Plaza at 48th Street and Elliot Road.
Upcoming speakers include Kyrene Justice of the Peace Sharron Sauls tomorrow, Oct. 20; Kyrene Governing Board President Kevin Walsh Oct. 27.
needs of
population in Ahwatukee
goal of enabling
to maintain independent living in their own homes.
home
feel her in that moment,” Weber said.
Chandler
resident Raina Dodge be gan honing her entrepreneurial skills when she ran a lemonade stand at age 5.
Now, as the owner of The Collective Market, a shop curated with local, arti sanal, and handmade products at Chan dler Fashion Center, Dodge helps 46 small businesses as well as her own get much needed exposure.
The Collective Market sells crochet and macrame with a modern twist; wood work creations such as flags and backyard games like cornhole and yard Yahtzee; seasonal decorative goods, soaps, candles, silk plants, blankets, heavy metals with a female flair fashioned into signs, keychains and bookends, and children’s items.
Dodge also sells her own products –quality baby blankets and lovies at an affordable price, also hair bows and headbands.
The inventory rotates every few weeks.
“The driving factor behind The Collec tive Market was the desire of my heart to help other small businesses (like mine) to amplify their small business presence (and sales) by offering them a venue to display and sell their goods,” said Dodge, a mother of three who graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bach elor of Science Degree in Business.
A year ago, when she looked for a space to establish her store, the first place she looked to, and selected, was the Chandler Fashion Center.
She created the concept, drew up a busi ness plan, executed contracts and opened the doors as a pop-up market in November.
“We received such a tremendous posi tive response through the holidays that we decided to remain open,” she said. “We recently doubled our space providing more opportunities for vendors.
At first, The Collective occupied 1,700-square-feet of retail floor space. Now, after renovations, it spreads across
nearly 4,000-square-feet.
The generous space has allowed the business to add do-it-yourself workshops and a roster of classes as well.
Dodge is buoyed by the progress of the last year.
“Everyone’s definition of success is dif ferent,” she said. “Some people say just opening a business is successful. I am so excited about how far we have come in a short amount of time.”
Dodge felt she had more to do to raise brand awareness.
“As soon as I walked into our space, I knew it could be better. After the renova
tion, my vision is now a reality. I’m work ing hard to make it an amazing space for both our customers and the small busi nesses community,” she said.
Amy Weber of San Tan Valley is one of the small businesses that displays and sells work at The Collective. Weber creates jewelry, one-of-a kind pieces with a defi nite flair, and has named her small busi ness Salt & Sass.
“My business came about when I was going through my mother’s jewelry, after she passed, looking for something that I could make into an everyday piece for myself. Something I could look at, and just
The idea caught on and soon she was selling to her friends and at farmer’s markets.
Weber likes selling at The Collective.
“It’s a fun and upbeat atmosphere, and it’s new every time I’m there,” she said. “The vendors are constantly bringing in new and special items. Interacting with the customers is a lot of fun.”
Dodge said that she has two main aims with the store.
The first is to create an environment for small businesses to connect with the local Chandler community by providing a space for them to sell their goods.
The second is to enable small business es to connect to each other.
“Sometimes, as a small business, you feel like you are off on an island. I wanted to bring people together so they could bounce ideas off each other, help each oth er out, genuinely create friendships that will last,” she said.
“Women seem to band together when they come together and work towards a common goal. There is strength in num bers. Yes, we do have that at The Collective.”
Asked if she felt the competition from the various art markets in the East Valley, Dodge replied in the negative.
“My goal has always been to support lo cal artisans. We provide a fun and creative environment where our partnering busi nesses can connect with our customers,” she said.
She is planning special events – an Ok toberfest and a Winter Wonderland – to give additional small businesses that are currently not vendors in the store an op portunity to connect with the community.
Dodge employs a couple of part-timers, but her main staff is the small business owners. All 46 – two men and 44 women – work a shift.
“I think it is important to work the store, not just sell there. I believe it helps keep them connect to the customers and our
Finding a massage therapist that is a good fit for you isn’t always easy. It may take a few therapists before you find your match. It is essential to research and ask questions to be confident you are getting what your body needs.
For instance, some therapists special ize in particular techniques like myo fascial release or lymphatic drainage. Additionally, therapists have different styles and varying concepts of pressure intensity.
First and foremost, ensure your thera pist has a license on their wall; it is man datory by the Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy. You can also use the board’s website, massagetherapy.az.gov, to confirm a current and active license or view a complaint if a therapist engaged in any criminal or fraudulent behavior. Be assured that a massage therapist
in Arizona must complete 700 hours of curriculum from an accredited school. If the school is not accredited, the therapist must pass either the NCETMB or MBLEx exam before receiving their license.
The program is imperative in under standing how the body works. In addi tion to learning various modalities of bodywork, required courses include anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiol ogy, and ethics.
Upon completion, there are about 100 hours of supervised clinic practicum. Furthermore, therapists are required to take 25 hours of continuing education every two years before renewing their licenses.
Some massage modalities include Swedish, deep tissue, craniosacral, Thai, trigger point, and sports massage. Stu dents will learn a mix of eastern and western procedures and their history and philosophies.
Some therapists may focus their prac tice more on specific modalities, so it’s best to find this out before making an ap
Moreover, every person will have dif ferent comfort levels and expectations during their sessions. Communication is imperative to making the treatment a successful experience – for example, too fluffy or too brutal pressure.
A therapist should check in with you on the pressure level to ensure you are satisfied. However, you should never hesitate to speak up if the massage is painful or to request more strength.
Furthermore, if the therapist is not ad dressing the areas of soreness, it is ac ceptable to inform them.
Another issue can be whether you want to have a conversation during therapy; this is unique to everyone. Your therapist should follow your lead on this but should they not; it’s best to let them know you prefer silence.
Finally, let the results speak for them selves. The goal is for you to experience relief during and after the massage.
Although some tender spots may be due to welcomed deeper work or trig
ger points, you should eventually have less tension. The benefits of massage are extensive, and many are scientifically proven. It has improved stress, circula tion, muscle tension, anxiety, and the im mune system.
Getting referrals is a great way to dis cover if a therapist is right for you. How ever, sometimes trial and error come into play. Understandably, massage can be expensive, so the goal is to feel better and partake in good health.
Unfortunately, many insurance com panies won’t pay unless the work is in a medical office. Many highly trained ther apists also work in fitness centers, pri vate practices, salons, spas, and resorts.
Once you find the ideal client-therapist relationship, you will hopefully feel more balanced in your overall well-being.
Darla S. Hoffmann, a licensed aes thetician and massage therapist, owns Apeeling Faces Skincare and Massage Therapy in Ahwatukee. Information: apeelingfaces.com 480-540-7555.
community. They can see why a customer is purchasing something, what is their motivation and their desire,” she said.
What are the challenges in operating this store?
“I am never really “off”! People are my number one priority. I always make my self available for the small businesses in my store. Since we are at the mall, we are open seven days a week. If anyone gets sick, I absolutely must cover – regardless of what my plans are,” she said.
Also, it’s tricky to balance the store with her family. She has an understanding hus band, Jason, and three young children, and everyone’s needs must be met.
Weber said she is happy with her in volvement in the store. “The shop is super busy,” she said.
Customers are the best marketing tool.
“They tell their friends, or share on so cial media about the amazing artists we have in the shop, causing more wonderful people to visit us in the mall,” she said.
The best things about being a part of the group? “I love the connection to my fellow small business owners, and the feeling of community that the shop
The Collective Market has an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind products on display. (Courtesy of The Collective Market)
brings,” Weber said
The Collective Market is at 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., at the Chandler Fashion Center, across from Pottery Barn.
An Octoberfest, with 50 local small busi
nesses participating, takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 28 and 29 at Chan dler Fashion Center in the covered area.
Details: shopthecollectiveaz.com
Editor’s note: Dave Von Tersch of Ahwatukee, color guard commander for Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64, passed away Oct. 5. Memorial services will be held in mid-November and the Patriot Guard motorcade will begin at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center and drive up to National Cemetery. Arrangements are still in progress. Brenda Smull is the post’s first vice commander.
BY BRENDA SMULL AFN Guest Writer
Whatimpressed me most about Dave Von Tersch was his dedi cation and loyalty to fellow veterans, friends, and the members of the community. Dave’s commitment to and passion for the Ahwatukee Ameri can Legion Post 64, where he was an ac tive member since 2013, was evident in the long list of volunteer roles and lead ership positions he held.
Dave helped to organize and support so many important events including cer emonies for Flag Day, 4th of July, Memo rial and Veterans Day, the spring Easter Parade, Evolution of the Flag, the annual Winterfest and Color Guard and Honor Guard for countless school, community and funeral events. He also assisted in the installation and dedication of the new
DAVE VON TERSCHflagpole and flags at the Ahwatukee Rec reation Center (ARC).
Dave was a true servant leader who
could be counted on to lend a helping hand and served as the Post 64 Sergeant at Arms for many years.
I first met Dave when he was the Color Guard Commander in 2018 and greatly appreciated how he enthusiastically led us with strong and confident “forward, march” “column left, march”, “right face”, “present arms” commands. He was seri ous and earnest when it came to proper flag protocol and etiquette and took to heart the solemn and crucial obligation to honor and respect our fallen comrades.
Another vivid memory I have of Dave Von Tersch is from Flag Day 2019 when he bravely and tirelessly endured ex treme heat and large flames to ensure the proper disposal of unserviceable US flags. This was the first time I had ever witnessed such a ceremony and I was in awe of Dave’s strength, commitment, and respect for our nation’s banner.
Since moving to Ahwatukee over five years ago, I have identified over 50 species of birds in the front and back yards at my house.
Many are the common ones like Gam bel’s Quail and the Mourning and Whitewinged doves. S some show up briefly in spring and fall, for example a Green-tailed Towhee that I am now used to looking out for in migration times. We also have some spectacular hawks nesting close by, and it is quite usual to see a Red-tailed hawk fly ing low across the neighborhood.
Just taking a walk is made more inter esting by looking out for the Rosy-faced lovebirds and Say’s Phoebes that live
here, and we can listen at night for the Great-horned Owl’s familiar hooting call.
The danger to these birds that we can all help lessen is that of our windows.
Accidental collisions frequently cost many birds their lives, especially the White-winged doves that stay for the summer. The bright side of this observa tion is that we can easily and inexpensive ly take steps to reduce collisions.
Step back from your house and just look at what birds see when approaching your windows. Sometimes they scatter quickly, for instance if a Cooper’s Hawk is close and threatening the birds at backyard feeders. That is when we are likely to hear a sudden thud of silence as the birds rush to take cover.
The windows to them look like more
space with reflected bushes and trees to which they want to fly. A window can also look like one more patch of sky with no obstacle before a bird.
Hitting the glass doesn’t always result in immediate casualties, but injuries have been extensively studied and analyzed to demonstrate the danger.
An extensive study at Arizona State University by Jason Struthers and involv ing a number of his colleagues has shown the extent of bird loss from windows and
Dave was born in Sioux City, Iowa and was one of eight kids. He had a twin sister and his childhood nickname was Dutch. Dave married the love of his life, Jean (Jeannie) and they spent 22 wonderful years together before she passed from Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his two daughters, Lara Clagett and Stephanie Jones, step children Shirley Archuletta, Darci Strang and Toby Ellis, his sister Jea nette (Nettie) Graham, and three broth ers, Sid, Tim and James Von Tersch.
Dave loved to dance, play cards, and tell silly jokes. He could often be found danc ing up a storm at the many Winterfest and Oktoberfest events at the ARC.
From May 1970 to May 1976 Dave served on Active Duty in the US Navy and achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E-5) Machinist Mate. He received
A strip attached in two-inch intervals down a window pane is an easy way to make a big difference for birds. (David Chorlton/ Guest Writer)
proven that simple measures can save many avian lives.
What is really at stake here? I have watched many species visit from their more usual territory in the desert of South Mountain.
A Ladder-backed Woodpecker was one unexpected guest that stood out from the more familiar Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers seen almost every day. A glossy black Phainopepla came to drink at the bird bath for several days and a Log gerhead Shrike came to sit on the back fence more than once.
Add to the birds mentioned so far, the Curve-billed Thrashers and Abert’s To whees, and the tiny Verdins who find lots to interest them in the lantana bushes. Don’t forget hummingbirds: we see both Anna’s and Costa’s here, and these are too often victims of window collisions. As the cooler season moves in, White-crowned Sparrows become quite common.
So, what to do to help them all?
A strip attached in two-inch intervals down a window pane is an easy way to make a big difference. Once we peel the strip away and follow instructions to leave the small white squares on the glass there is an obstacle the birds see that even looks attractive on the window.
A roll will cost you $15 + shipping and is enough to treat 16 square feet of danger ous glass (featherfriendly.com). A small cost for the priceless life of birds living unknowing of the threats that linger just over the next bush.
We are living in an age of big issues and problems that affect wildlife, so it is a wel come change to be aware of something we can do to begin making a difference where we live.
There is a chance that high rise build ings with extensive glass in their design will be built to include protective mea sures, but house by house throughout the Valley we can take action to help keep the birds around us.
Class Nuclear Attack Submarine.
the Silver Dolphins badge and served on the USS Sunfish SSN-649, a Sturgeon-
After his six years in the Navy, Dave worked thirty years in technical positions such as Test Engineer supporting Agilent 3070 In-Circuit and Takaya 94xx Flying Probe test systems.
Dave was a proud military Veteran and enjoyed serving his community.
In April 2022, Dave attended his last Spring Easter Parade and proudly marched alongside the Post 64 Color Guard for a good portion of the route. Dave was a strong man who took his responsibilities and obligations seriously. He kept active for as long as he was able and he never quit. His fortitude was unfaltering.
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
MountainPointe head coach Eric Lauer said he could tell pre-game his team didn’t come with the same level of energy it did two weeks ago.
Perhaps it was the bye week mixed with fall break. Or the Pride’s offensive out burst against rival Desert Vista had them overzealous heading into a matchup with Corona del Sol, their other rival just over Interstate 10.
Whatever it was, Lauer said his team was simply outplayed in their 35-28 loss to the Aztecs Friday night in Tempe.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Corona, they whooped us tonight,” Lauer said. “We didn’t play Mountain Pointe foot ball, I don’t think. That’s my fault. I don’t
know if it was some sort of jet lag from a good win two weeks ago and we thought we were just going to walk in here.
“We’ve gotta work, man. We’ve gotta be ready Friday nights.”
Mountain Pointe was forced to match Corona del Sol’s energy early on as the Aztecs drove down the field on their first possession and scored. Senior running back Jonathan Kubat, Corona’s lead back, punched in his first of two touchdowns to give the Aztecs an early lead.
But the Pride were able to respond.
see MTN POINTE page 43
Mountain Pointe senior running back Jay’len Rushing slams into Corona del Sol senior safety Aalijah Burn Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 at Hascall Henshaw Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (David Minton/AFN Staff)
Whenit rains it pours. The snow ball effect. Keeping their chins up.
Pick a favorite cliché. Any of the three could be used to describe the season thus far for the Desert Vista Thunder. But one wouldn’t guess it when talking to firstyear head coach Nate Gill. He speaks with confidence about where his relatively in experienced group is at, even as the losses have seemingly piled on.
The latest loss came Friday night against defending 6A champion Highland, which stifled the Thunder en route to a 31-7 home win in Gilbert.
But Gill looked at some of the positives, or challenges, his team has faced.
He pointed out a schedule made up of four teams ranked in the top 20 of the 6A power rankings. That schedule includes Highland, Mountain Pointe, Centennial and Perry. All of those came in the first half of the season.
“Overall, experience wise, we are still
a young team,” Gill said. “I’m extremely proud of them. We looked the defending 6A champs in the eyes and we were a tough out for a long time in the game. We’ve just got to build on it. Our schedule has been
rough. We have played some extremely good football teams and on the backend of it we just need to put some games together and just play a complete game.”
The hosting Hawks outscored the visitors
24-0 from the eight-minute mark of the sec ond quarter until the scoreboard hit all ze roes and didn’t allow the Thunder offense to cross midfield until the second quarter. The Thunder played the reigning champs close for a good bit, scoring their first and only touchdown of the night off a 15 scam per up the middle by quarterback Braxton Thomas midway through quarter No. 2.
The good was there. Thomas was hit ting his targets in stride with room to run. Tackles were broken for extra yard age. Thomas made plays with his legs to extend drives – a few Highland penalties helped that too, but hey, if it helps it helps.
But then a mistake is made.
Thomas was picked off by Highland’s Cooper Camac to halt a strong drive deep in the Hawks’ red zone. Then Highland quarterback Kalen Fisher threw his sec ond interception of the day to Desert Vis ta’s Shaedon McDonald, only for Thomas to throw a pick-six to Ezekiel Nautu who took it home 62 yards to start the down hill spiral entering halftime.
Senior running back Jay’len Rushing, the leader of a three-headed monster in the backfield, pummeled his way down the field on two long runs. The second of the two — where he broke multiple would-be tackles — resulted in a 13-yard touchdown.
The two teams traded blows throughout the first half. Corona junior quarterback Connor Ackerley connected with junior wideout Zuri Glenn on a 20-yard touch down pass. Mountain Pointe countered with a 4-yard run by Arviso.
Kubat then found the end zone for the second time while Arviso found senior wideout Jaylen Johnson for a 36-yard touchdown before the half.
Then, the pace of the game changed in favor of Corona.
“Looking at the chart at halftime, we saw some things they were doing that we felt we could seize the opportunity,” Barro said. “That helped us shut them down a little bit. They’re a good football team, we just keyed on some tendencies, and it re ally helped us in the second half.”
Halftime adjustments by both teams led to stagnant offenses throughout the third quarter.
Corona finally managed to break the scoreless streak with a 2-yard touchdown run by Ackerley. On the Aztecs’ next drive, he found senior Crew Swearingen for a 10-yard touchdown to give his team a two-score advantage.
Mountain Pointe needed an answer
Cue the dreaded snowball effect.
Nautu took the opening kickoff of the sec ond half to midfield, and teammate Carson Mullenaux did the rest on a 50-yard run for a score to extend the lead. He finished his day with two scores while Jay Martin also found the end zone in the first quarter.
“We leaned on our run game more,” Fisher said. “It was working more and our run game basically led us to the win. … We definitely have more to show and a whole lot to improve on the rest of the season. It is only going to get better from here and we can only improve by .. .making our practices count – the little things.”
A botched pooch kick by Thomas that doinked off the back of his own offensive lineman, leading to a short field that High land converted into a Mullenaux TD, took what spark was left in the Thunder late in the third.
trailing by 14 with less than 5 minutes remaining. And on fourth down, the Pride got it.
Arviso connected with junior Chris tian Clark down field for a 29-yard gain. The next play, Arviso found Johnson for a 36-yard touchdown. The Pride offense was given one last chance to tie the game with just over a minute remaining. But four consecutive incompletions after two personal foul penalties on Corona del Sol sealed the victory for the Aztecs.
“Dropped passes, we’re third and three and the 3-yarder goes through our hands. We had opportunities,” Lauer said. “But it was well before that. They played re ally hard. They limited the run game and
did some things that forced us to change things around.”
Mountain Pointe’s offense all season has consisted of a heavy dosage of its three run ning backs. Two weeks ago, the three com bined for over 300 yards on the ground.
Friday night against Corona, they com bined for 160. As a team, Mountain Pointe had 212 rushing yards. Rushing led the way with 78, while Clark had 71 and Arviso 52 to go along with his 14 completions on 31 attempts for 115 yards through the air.
His top target on the night was Johnson, who caught five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Ackerley, who has had a breakout junior season for Corona, finished 16-of-25 for
262 yards and three total touchdowns. Kubat had 92 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
The game plan was to take what they gave us,” Ackerley said. “Zuri Glenn mak ing big plays, Kubat made some good plays on screen passes. We had two weeks to game plan for them so that always helps.”
The Aztecs knew coming into Friday’s contest it would be a dogfight between the two region contenders. Additionally, the pair of teams entered the week in the top six of the 6A rankings, with Corona del Sol at No. 1 when all the Open Division teams are removed from 6A playoff contention.
Now 5-1 on the year, the Aztecs are in the driver seat for the region title and a potential spot in the Open Division for the second time in three years.
“This was a huge matchup for the re gion,” Ackerley said. “Our main goal was to win this game so we can control our des tiny in the region and control out destiny in the playoffs.”
Mountain Pointe, meanwhile, drops to 3-3 after the loss but Lauer feels the team still controls its own destiny for a top play off spot in 6A.
But first, the Pride need to regroup and get healthy before going on the road next week to face Dobson.
“It’s you controlling your destiny and letting things fall where they may,” Lauer said. “We’ve gotta get ready for Dobson. It’s on to the next. But (Corona) played a heck of a game. I think that was a real good high school football game.”
we played today. I told my guys, ‘Hey, each game from here on out is a playoff caliber game in terms of intensity… so attack all of them with a sense of urgency.’ We’ve just got to clean up a few things and get back to work.
“… We just look at the things we do well, and the things we have to work on and em brace and accept the challenge,” Gill added about keeping the team’s confidence and things in perspective with his team. “I think anybody that has a computer or in ternet access knows we have played some monsters early on. … Overall a really tough schedule and I think that is going to pre pare us for the long haul.”
“We’ve just got to learn from it and not make the same mistakes repeatedly,” Gill
said. “We will be OK moving forward. (Highland) is a good football team that
Desert Vista keeps the schedule of mon sters rolling next week when it heads over to Corona del Sol, which survived a barnburner against Mountain Pointe Fri day night to remain among the top of the top in the 6A. Highland will host Saguaro, which is coming off its bye week.
SouthernCalifornia creative Ashli St. Armant had a plan to write a musical about the Underground Railroad.
She had not found the setting for it until she visited Oak Alley Plantation in Vach erie, Louisiana, where some of her ances tors worked as slaves in the 1700s.
Two rows of magnificent oak trees cre ate a grandiose front pathway and the tour guide remarked, “Can you imagine what these trees have seen and witnessed?”
“That was it for me,” St. Armant said. “My ancestors walked in, and they were like ‘we got this!’”
Her ancestors will possibly be appeased when the Chandler Center for the Arts premiers “North, The Musical” in early No vember.
Chandler joined three other cities nation wide to commission St. Armant’s theatrical debut, which she created and directed and sis produced by actor Isaiah Johnson of
Ashli St. Armant has used her multi-talents, creative community and personal drive to present “North, The Musical,” which comes to the Chandler Center for the Arts in No vember. (Steve Lorentzen.)
But St. Armant has set her sights on Broadway.
A composer, musician, jazz vocalist, mu sical theater playwright, author and youth educator among other skills and talents, St. Armant began her career as a pre-school music teacher and soon started writing content for young audiences.
A rambunctious only child, she grew up with many children around because her mother ran a home daycare center. Musical instruments, make-believe and children’s entertainment were part of the culture of her home.
She could not escape the influences of her childhood.
As a teen, she wanted to be a star on Broadway. She still feels it is within her reach, although the path has been circu itous, with a lot of distractions.
“I feel like Dorothy: she has these discov eries and makes new friends along the way, she has distractions, and feels it a waste of time, but at the end she realizes that was really the point of the journey,” she said.
“That’s how I feel about my journey to wards Broadway, too. I believe it’s going to
happen. I’ve had these extremely fruitful and fulfilling experiences along the way,” she added.
St. Armant is buoyed by the response to “North” so far. She drew on her multifacet ed aptitudes and her creative community to assemble it and rates it as her biggest accomplishment yet.
“It’s been the biggest feat even to get it to this point,” she said. “It’s the biggest team I’ve had to build, the most money I’ve had to raise, the biggest reach in terms of the audience we’re trying to reach across the country, and also trying to get into Broad way and making those connections.”
Justifiably, she is also proud of it.
“I’m proud of everything I do, but this, for sure, is the most personal thing I’ve ever created,” she said. “To see so many people get something out of it, to appreci ate it already, and it hasn’t even really even gotten into the stage.”
How did Chandler, which is not on the
BY ALEX GALLAGHER GeIOut Staff Writer
After an 8-year absence from the Arizona wine scene, the Paso Ro bles Wine Country Experience is returning to the state with an inaugural appearance in Scottsdale.
The experience on Oct. 27 at The Mc Cormick Scottsdale Resort will feature 23 winemakers and crafters and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Executive Director Joel Peterson is excited to return to the Grand Canyon State.
“Scottsdale is such a close market to Southern California and Paso Robles is lo cated exactly halfway between LA and San Francisco,” Peterson said. “We focused on Texas for a while and then moved to New York, and we’ve done some other states but all of the wineries kept saying ‘why
don’t we go back to Arizona? It’s such a great market for us.’
“So, we put the call out to our wineries in Paso Robles, and we’re going to show up with 23 of them, so we’re excited.”
Peterson has a simple goal.
“What I’m hoping for is that people come to the event and get a taste of what Paso Robles is like and how it’s a super interesting, authentic part of California in how cowboys and ranchers surround it and now it’s kind of this winemaker coun try we have there,” Peterson said.
“I think people will be impressed and blown away by the wines but also find people there enjoying them. I want them to get a taste of what Paso Robles is like, but it will be in their backyard.”
Wine won’t be the only indulgence for
path of the Underground Railroad, get in volved in premiering the musical?
Michelle Mac Lennan, general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts, said that she became acquainted with St. Armant after she performed a virtual concert through the Dandelion Artists agency dur ing the pandemic. For the concert, St. Ar mant was wearing the hats of childhood education specialist and artist, working as Jazzy Ash & the Leaping Lizards.
“We fell in love with her voice, immense talent, joy and energy,” Mac Lennon said.
Post-pandemic, the center met with the Dandelion Artists producer Sarah McCarthy.
“She shared Ashli’s new project and the rest, as they say, is history,” Mac Len nan said.
The Chandler Center for the Arts com missioned the musical along with the Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Chandler Center’s agreement in cluded an initial investment of $40,000, Mac Lellan said. In turn, the CCA will host the Arizona premiere on Nov. 4 and have rights to return the production in the 2023-24 season as part of the na tional tour.
“North’s” original score features jazz and Black roots music and an uplifting story set against the backdrop of the Under ground Railroad, a historical network that
helped slaves flee to Canada in the years before the Civil War.
The musical’s characters, Lawrence and his mother, Minnie, escape the Deep South and travel North to find freedom. They travel through Louisiana’s bayous, bus tling New Orleans, and the young town of Lawrence, Kansas. The story reflects the optimism, bravery, wonder and suspense of freedom seekers.
“North” absorbs St. Armant’s personal family stories.
She learned about the community of Ma roons, people who escaped slavery but in stead of traveling north, hid in the bayous of the forests. An acquaintance sent her a book, “Slavery’s Exiles,” that contained a passage about a man named Tam, a com munity leader who was called “the brave one.” He would work for non-slave owning plantation owners and be brave enough to
collect money.
“The passage said he was enslaved on the same plantation that my family mem bers were enslaved in, in an account from 1780. He’d run away from the St. Armand Plantation,” she said. “It was pretty shock ing to read that.”
Tam became a primary character in the show.
There’s also the coincidence of her name. She had changed her name to reflect the maternal line of her family, Armand. The change was done before she read the book. The slaves took the names of their masters, but were denied the “Saint” on their name.
“I learned my last name was Armand. I changed it to St. Armant, the original last name from France,” she said, reflecting the French Saint Armand, the patron saint of beer, wine making and hospitality.
Because of these and various other chance occurrences, St. Armant feels a spiritual connection to the show she is creating.
“I don’t think it’s by accident that this information came to me, that he (Tam) was also enslaved in a plantation that my family members were also enslaved on,” she said. “And because of the nature of our history here in the States, we really don’t know our family lineage past four or five generations max because our history was erased for us, our last names were taken, and all that.”
“I can’t know for sure, but I think I know,” she continued. “At the very least, he shares an experience that my ancestors have also experienced on the same land.”
What: “North: The Musical”
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
Cost: Tickets: $32, $42, $15 for youth.
Info: nformation/sales: chandlercent er.org/north or 480-782-2680.
Connected Events: 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at Chandler Pub lic Library: “The Underground and Overground Railroad” presented by Dr. Tamika Sanders.
Nov. 4 I the Gallery of the Chandler Center for the Arts, opening night cast reception after show for ticketholders.
Nov. 5 at CCA: “North: The Musical Talk Backs,” following both the Satur day performances.
guests at the Paso Robles Wine Country Experience.
“We’re working with the hotel caterer at The McCormick and they’re putting togeth er some cool kind of meats and cheeses and stuff that pairs well with the wines because we want to make sure we’re getting people something to have just besides wine for two and a half hours,” Peterson said.
“And then we partnered with our des tination partner called Travel Paso and they’re going to bring some craft spirits. They’re going to be pouring little cock tails, bringing some local honey and some local lavender to show that Paso is this cool place where there’s not only just a boutique kind of wine industry, but there are other makers there.”
However, the main focus will be wine and the experience will have a large sam
ple for guests to savor.
“The nice thing is we’ll have wine kind
of across the board in terms of if you know and love wines, and you’re an avid wine drinker, we’re going to have some cool kind of high-end fun one’s for you to try, but if you’re just kind of a novice, or you just want to kind of see what it’s about, we’ll just kind of walk you through some of the entry-level wines that we have,” Peterson said.
Though Paso Robles is known for its red wines, Peterson said, “We’ll still be com ing out with our white wines and rosé but we’re also coming in with a powerhouse of wines that people may have never heard of like Daou and Justin and J Lohr wine – which are some of the bigger kind of nationally produced wines – but we’ve got some really fun boutique wines like Linne Calodo and Full Draw.
“However, our heritage has always been zinfandel and zinfandel blend, so really over the last 15 years, we’ve gotten known for our Rhône blend in Paso Robles and
lately, the cabernets have been taking off,” he continued.
“So, we’ll have some fun and big wines that show well.”
Because of this, Peterson has high ex pectations for his return to the desert.
“I’m expecting this to be a fun interac tion with the people of Scottsdale and when people hear about it, I want it to kind of reinvigorate that relationship be tween the two cities since we both offer a lot in terms of food and wine.”
What: Paso Robles Wine Country
Experience
Where: The McCormick Scottsdale, 7421 N. Scottsdale Road
When: 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27
Cost: $65
Info: pasowine.com
love salmon filets,
kind of jealous. I’ve
to love salmon all of my life. But if it’s not done well, I tend to get a little bored half way
the meal. I’m that way with chicken, too. I’ll bet you can relate.
So I’m always on the lookout for a great new way to prepare salmon. Recently, I’ve found one, and I’m filled to the gills with joy!
This dish is sensational. It starts with a beautiful fresh (emphasizing fresh here) piece of salmon, pan grilled simply with salt and pepper. The real flavor bomb comes with the sauce.
It’s a tasty mixture of sundried tomatoes, garlic, artichoke hearts, capers, smoked paprika and baby spinach made ever so rich with heavy cream. The cooked salmon gets to go swimming in this saporous pool of savory sauce before it’s served on a bed of rice or pasta.
You may want to forego the starch and serve it with charred Italian bread slices because there will be some amazing sauce to mop up.
By the way, I mention that fresh fish is better. If you purchase “previously frozen” fish, here’s what happens:
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb salmon fillets (or 4 salmon fillets)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped fine
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Season salmon fillets with salt.
3. When the oil is hot, add salmon fillets flesh side down (skin side up). Sear for about 3-4 min utes. Reduce heat to medium. Flip the salmon fillets to the other side (skin side down). Sear for another 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Remove salmon from the skillet. Place on a plate and tent with foil.
4. To the same skillet, add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped artichokes and
Since fish contains a lot of water, when it freezes, it expands. When it thaws, it contracts and that rips apart the fibers of the fish, allowing moisture to leak out. Have you ever noticed a lot of water in the package of a piece of frozen fish after it’s been defrosted?
Also, previously frozen can create a mushy flesh, so opt for fresh if available. Give this Creamy Tuscan Salmon Skillet a try You just might get hooked.
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 5 oz fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
capers. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
5. Add fresh spinach, and continue cooking until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
6. Add the cup of heavy cream and paprika. Bring to simmer, cooking for about 1 minute, stir ring constantly.
7. Add salmon back into the skillet with the cream sauce.
Spoon the sauce over the salmon, and simmer until the salmon is warmed and cooked through. Season with more salt, if desired. Serve with rice, pasta or crusty bread.
Serves 4.
Technologies,
Software En gineer
Consultant, Financial Reporting at Equity Meth ods, Scottsdale, AZ Perform tech accounting GAAP research and implement new equity comp reporting projects Reqd: Mast in Accounting, Finance, Eco nomics, or related and 3 yrs exp (alternatively, Bach and 5 yrs exp) in role involving equity comp ac counting. Multiple openings. Apply online at https://www equitymethods com/about us/careers/
Engineering Group, Inc seeks an Electrical Group Manager to lead the Electrical Engineering aspects of
large scale solar & wind power gener ation
the US out of our Phoenix, AZ office
Bachelor in Electrical Engineering or related
of electrical engineering design exp in power distribution and/or power transmis sion
or utility scale power projects
5 yrs
electrical engineering design experi
Engineering
a Master’s degree in
of electrical engineer
distribution and/or
or utility scale power projects
years of international electrical engin eering design experience Req’d: AZ & CA profes sional engineer or working toward Up to 10% do mestic travel required Resumes to https://www
us/careers/
CMC Steel Arizona has proudly been making the steel that builds America since 2009.
are hiring immediately for all skilled operator positions to be part of building our new, state of the art micro mill from the ground up!
CMC,
offer great benefits and provide all necessary training and certifications.
